Novel IL-5 inhibiting 6-azauracil derivatives

ABSTRACT

The present invention is concerned with the compounds of formula  
                 
 
     the N-oxides, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, p and q are 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 and q is also 5; X is O, S, NR 3  or a direct bond; R 1  is hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkyloxy, C 3-7 cycloalkyl or aryl; R 2  is aryl, Het 1 , C 3-7 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C 1-6 alkyl; and if X is O, S or NR 3 , then R 2  may also be a carbonyl or thiocarbonyl linked substituent; R 3  is hydrogen or C 1-4 alkyl; R 4  and R 5  independently are optionally substituted C 1-6 alkyl, halo, hydroxy, mercapto, C 1-6 alkyloxy, C 1-6 akylthio, C 1-6 alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het 3 , R 6  or NR 7 R 8 ; R 6  is substituted sulfonyl or sulfinyl; R 7  and R 8  are hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl, aryl, a carbonyl or thiocarbonyl linked substituent, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, Het 3  and R 6 ; R 9  and R 10  are each independently selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl, phenyl, a carbonyl or thiocarbonyl linked substituent, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, Het 3  and R 6 ; R 11  is hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, nitro, halo, trihalomethyl, C 1-4 alkyloxy, carboxyl, C 1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl, trihaloC 1-4 alkylsulfonyloxy, R 6 , NR 7 R 8 , C(═O)NR 7 R 8 , aryl, aryloxy, arylcarbonyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyloxy, phthalimide-2-yl, Het 3  and C(═O)Het 3 ; R 12  and R 13  are each independently selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1-4 alkyl, phenyl, a carbonyl or thiocarbonyl linked substituent, C 3-7 cycloalkyl and R 6 ; aryl is optionally substituted phenyl; Het 1 , Het 2  and Het 3  are optionally substituted heterocycles; to processes for their preparation and compositions comprising them. It further relates to their use as a medicine.

[0001] The present invention concerns novel IL-5 inhibiting 6-azauracil derivatives useful for treating eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases; to processes for their preparation and compositions comprising them. It further relates to their use as a medicine.

[0002] Eosinophil influx, leading to subsequent tissue damage, is an important pathogenic event in bronchial asthma and allergic diseases. The cytokine interleukin-5 (IL-5), produced mainly by T lymphocytes as a glycoprotein, induces the differentiation of eosinophils in bone marrow and, primes eosinophils for activation in peripheral blood and sustains their survival in tissues. As such, IL-5 plays a critical role in the process of eosinophilic inflammation. Hence, the possibility that inhibitors of IL5 production would reduce the production, activation and/or survival of eosinophils provides a therapeutic approach to the treatment of bronchial asthma and allergic diseases such as, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and also other eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases.

[0003] Steroids, which strongly inhibit IL-5 production in vitro, have long been used as the only drugs with remarkable efficacy for bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis, but they cause various serious adverse reactions such as diabetes, hypertension and cataracts. Therefore, it would be desirable to find non-steroidal compounds having the ability to inhibit IL-5 production in human T-cells and which have little or no adverse reactions.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,278 discloses a-aryl-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneacetonitriles and U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,760 discloses 2-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-diones, all having anti-protozoal activity, in particular, anti-coccidial activity. EP 831,088 discloses 1,2,4-triazine-3,5-diones as anticoccidial agents. Unexpectedly, the 6-azauracil derivatives of the present invention prove to be potent inhibitors of the production of IL-5.

[0005] The present invention is concerned with the compounds of formula

[0006] the N-oxides, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein:

[0007] p represents an integer being 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

[0008] q represents an integer being 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;

[0009] X represents O, S, NR³ or a direct bond;

[0010] R¹ represents hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyl C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₃₋₇cycloakyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl or mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkylamino;

[0011] R² represents aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR³, then R² may also represent aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl, arylcarbonyl or arylthiocarbonyl;

[0012] R³ represents hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl;

[0013] each R⁴ independently represents C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het³, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸ or C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with Het³, R⁶ or NR⁷R⁸;

[0014] each R⁵ independently represents C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het³, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸ or C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with Het³, R⁶ or NR⁷R⁸;

[0015] each R⁶ independently represents C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, aminosulfonyl, mono- or di-(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminosulfonyl, mono- or di(benzyl)aminosulfonyl, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfinyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyl, piperazinylsulfonyl, aminopiperidinylsulfonyl, piperidinylaminosulfonyl, N-C₁₋₄alkyl-N-piperidinylaminosulfonyl;

[0016] each R⁷and each R⁸ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, arylaminocarbonyl, arylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ and R⁶;

[0017] R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ and R⁶;

[0018] each R¹¹ independently being selected from hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, nitro, halo, trihalomethyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, carboxyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, trihaloC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyloxy, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸, C(═O)NR⁷R⁸, aryl, aryloxy, arylcarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyloxy, phthalimide-2-yl, Het³ and C(═O)Het³;

[0019] R¹² and R¹³ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄ alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl and R⁶;

[0020] aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from nitro, azido, halo, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl C₁₋₄alkyloxy, polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, R⁶, phenyl, Het³ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with NR⁹R¹⁰;

[0021] Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl, triazinyl, benzothienyl, isobenzothienyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolinyl, phtalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹;

[0022] Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl and triazinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with R¹¹;

[0023] Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with, where possible, one, two or three substituents each independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, carboxyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, piperidinyl, NR¹²R¹³, R⁶ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with R⁶ or NR¹²R¹³.

[0024] As used in the foregoing definitions and hereinafter, halo is generic to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo; C₃₋₇cycloalkyl is generic to cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl; C₁₋₄alkyl defines straight and branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 1-methylethyl, 2-methylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylethyl and the like; C₁₋₆alkyl is meant to include C₁₋₄alkyl and the higher homologues thereof having 5 or 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, pentyl, 2-methylbutyl, hexyl, 2-methylpentyl and the like; polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl is defined as polyhalosubstituted C₁₋₄alkyl, in particular C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with 1 to 6 halogen atoms, more in particular difluoro- or trifluoromethyl; polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl is defined as polyhalosubstituted C₁₋₆alkyl.

[0025] Het¹, Het² and Het³ are meant to include all the possible isomeric forms of the heterocycles mentioned in the definition of Het¹, Het² or Het³, for instance, pyrrolyl also includes 2H-pyrrolyl; triazolyl includes 1,2,4-triazolyl and 1,3,4-triazolyl; oxadiazolyl includes 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl and 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl; thiadiazolyl includes 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl and 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl; pyranyl includes 2H-pyranyl and 4H-pyranyl.

[0026] The heterocycles represented by Het¹, Het² and Het³ may be attached to the remainder of the molecule of formula (I) through any ring carbon or heteroatom as appropriate. Thus, for example, when the heterocycle is imidazolyl, it may be a 1-imidazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl and 5-imidazolyl; when it is thiazolyl, it may be 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl and 5-thiazolyl; when it is triazolyl, it may be 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-5-yl, 1,3,4-triazol-1-yl and 1,3,4-triazol-2-yl; when it is benzthiazolyl, it may be 2-benzthiazolyl, 4-benzthiazolyl, 5-benzthiazolyl, 6-benzthiazolyl and 7-benzthiazolyl.

[0027] The pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid addition salt forms which the compounds of formula (I) are able to form. The latter can conveniently be obtained by treating the base form with such appropriate acids as inorganic acids, for example, hydrohalic acids, e.g. hydrochloric, hydrobromic and the like; sulfuric acid; nitric acid; phosphoric acid and the like; or organic acids, for example, acetic, propanoic, hydroxyacetic, 2-hydroxypropanoic, 2-oxopropanoic, ethanedioic, propanedioic, butanedioic, (Z)-2-butenedioic, (E)-2-butenedioic, 2-hydroxybutanedioic, 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic, 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic, cyclohexanesulfamic, 2-hydroxybenzoic, 4-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic and the like acids. Conversely the salt form can be converted by treatment with alkali into the free base form.

[0028] The compounds of formula (I) containing acidic protons may be, converted into their therapeutically active non-toxic metal or amine addition salt forms by treatment with appropriate organic and inorganic bases. Appropriate base salt forms comprise, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkali and earth alkaline metal salts, e.g. the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium salts and the like, salts with organic bases, e.g. the benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol, hydrabamine salts, and salts with amino acids such as, for example, arginine, lysine and the like. Conversely the salt form can be converted by treatment with acid into the free acid form.

[0029] The term addition salt also comprises the hydrates and solvent addition forms which the compounds of formula (I) are able to form. Examples of such firms are e.g. hydrates, alcoholates and the like.

[0030] The N-oxide forms of the present compounds are meant to comprise the compounds of formula (I) wherein one or several nitrogen atoms are oxidized to the so-called N-oxide. For example, one or more nitrogen atoms of any of the heterocycles in the definition of Het¹, Het² and Het³ may be N-oxidized.

[0031] Some of the compounds of formula (I) may also exist in their tautomeric forms. Such forms although not explicitly indicated in the above formula are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. For example, a hydroxy substituted triazine moiety may also exist as the corresponding triazinone moiety; a hydroxy substituted pyrimidine moiety may also exist as the corresponding pyrimidinone moiety.

[0032] The term “stereochemically isomeric forms” as used hereinbefore defines all the possible stereoisomeric forms in which the compounds of formula (I) can exist. Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of compounds, denotes the mixture of all possible stereochemically isomeric forms, said mixtures containing all diastereomers and enantiomers of the basic molecular structure. More in particular, stereogenic centers may have the R- or S-configuration, used herein in accordance with Chemical Abstracts nomenclature. Stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) are obviously intended to be embraced within the scope of this invention.

[0033] The compounds of formula (I) and some of the intermediates in the present invention contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms. The pure and mixed stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present invention.

[0034] Whenever used hereinafter, the term “compounds of formula (I)” is meant to also include their N-oxide forms, their pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, and their stereochemically isomeric forms.

[0035] The numbering of the phenyl ring bearing substituent R⁴ is given hereinbelow and is used herein as such when indicating the position of the R⁴ substituents on said phenyl ring, unless otherwise indicated.

[0036] The carbon atom bearing the two phenyl rings and the R¹ and —X—R² substituents will be referred herein as the central carbon atom.

[0037] A special group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ represents hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl or arylC₁₋₆alkyl; R² represents aryl; Het¹; C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl and Het¹; and if X is NR³, then R² may also represent C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl or arylcarbonyl; each R⁴ independently represents halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfinyl, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, aryl, cyano, nitro, amino, mono- and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino or (C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl)amino; each R⁵ independently represents halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfinyl, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, aryl, cyano, nitro, amino, mono- and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino or (C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl)amino; aryl represents phenyl or phenyl substituted with one, two or three substituents selected from halo, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino and phenyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, dithianyl, triazinyl, benzothienyl, isobenzothienyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzthiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolinyl, phtalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl and thiazolopyridinyl; said heterocycles each independently may be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three R¹¹ substituents, each R¹¹ independently being selected from hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, nitro, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminocarbonyl, mono- or di(aryl) amino, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, aryl, furanyl, thienyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonylpiperidinyl and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with C₁₋₄alkyloxy, aryl, hydroxy, piperidinyl, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino or C₃₋₇cycloalkyl.

[0038] An interesting group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein the 6-azauracil moiety is connected to the phenyl ring in the para or meta position relative to the central carbon atom; preferably in the para position.

[0039] Suitably, p is 0, 1 or 2; preferably 1 or 2.

[0040] Suitably, q is 0, 1 or 2; preferably 1 or 2.

[0041] Suitably, R¹ represents hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, amino, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkylamino; in particular, hydrogen, methyl and hydroxy.

[0042] Suitably, R² represents aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)-amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, aryl, Het¹ and Het¹thio; and if X is NR³, then R² may also represent arylcarbonyl.

[0043] Suitably, R³ represents hydrogen or methyl.

[0044] Suitably, each R⁴ independently represents C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyloxy.

[0045] Suitably, each R⁵ independently represents C₁₋₆alkyl, halo or C₁₋₆alkyloxy.

[0046] Suitably, each R⁶ independently represents C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, aminosulfonyl or phenylC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyl.

[0047] Suitably, each R⁷ and each R⁸ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, arylaminocarbonyl, arylaminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ and R⁶.

[0048] Suitably, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy carbonylcarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl and R⁶.

[0049] Suitably, R¹² and R¹³ are each independently selected from hydrogen and C₁₋₄alkyl. Suitably, Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from imidazolyl,, triazolyl, furanyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, triazinyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo-[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, imidazo-[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹. Suitably, Het² represents furanyl, thienyl or pyridinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl. Suitably, Het³ represents pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with, where possible, one, two or three substituents each independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, piperidinyl, NR¹²R¹³ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with NR¹²R¹³.

[0050] Particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁴ and R⁵ each independently are halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or aryl, more in particular, chloro or trifluoromethyl.

[0051] Other particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R² represents aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR³, then R² may also represent aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl, arylcarbonyl or arylthiocarbonyl; more in particular R² is oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrimidinyl or pyridinyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be, substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹.

[0052] Yet other particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein X is O, S, NH or a direct bond, more preferably S or a direct bond, most preferably a direct bond.

[0053] Preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein q is 1 or 2 and one R⁴ substituent, preferably chloro, is in the 4 position.

[0054] Other preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein p is 1 or 2 and the one or two R⁵ substituents, preferably chloro, are in the ortho position relative to the central carbon atom.

[0055] More preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein the 6-azauracil moiety is in the para position relative to the central carbon atom; p is 2 and both R⁵ substituent are chloro positioned ortho relative to the central carbon atom; q is 1 and R⁴ is chloro positioned in the 4 position.

[0056] Most preferred compounds include

[0057] 2-[3,5dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyrimidinylthio)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4 H)-dione;

[0058] 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl) [2-(4-pyridinyl)-4-thiazolyl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione monohydrochloride.monohydrate;

[0059] 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadizol-2-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5 (2H,4H)-dione;

[0060] 2-[3,5-dichloro-4[(4-chlorophenyl)[4-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5 (2H,4H)-dione;

[0061] 2-[3,5dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[4-(3-fluorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione;

[0062] 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyridinylthio)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione; the N-oxides, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof.

[0063] In order to simplify the structural representation of the compounds of formula (I), the group

[0064] will hereinafter be represented by the symbol D.

[0065] Compounds of formula (I) can generally be prepared by reacting an intermediate of formula (II) wherein W¹ is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, a halogen atom, with an appropriate reagent of formula (III).

[0066] Said reaction may be performed in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetic acid, tetrahydrofuran, ethanol or a mixture thereof. Alternatively, in case the reagent of formula (III) acts as a solvent, no additional reaction-inert solvent is required. The reaction is optionally carried out in the presence of a base such as, for example, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, sodium bicarbonate, sodiumethanolate and the like. Convenient reaction temperatures range between −70° C. and reflux temperature.

[0067] In this and the following preparations, the reaction products may be isolated from the reaction medium and, if necessary, further purified according to methodologies generally known in the art such as, for example, extraction, crystallization, distillation, trituration and chromatography.

[0068] Alternatively, compounds of formula (I) may generally be prepared by cyclizing an intermediate of formula (IV) wherein L is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo, and E represents an appropriate electron attracting group such as, for example, an ester, an amide, a cyanide, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy and the like groups; and eliminating the group E of the thus obtained triazinedione of formula (V). Said reaction procedure is analogous to the one described in EP-A-0,170,316.

[0069] Some of the compounds and intermediates of the present invention can be prepared according to or analogous to the procedures described in EP-A-0,170,316 and EP-A-0,232,932.

[0070] For instance, scheme 1 depicts a reaction pathway for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is hydrogen and X is a direct bond, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-1). A ketone of formula (VI) can be reacted with a reagent of formula (VII) wherein W² is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, a halogen, in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, and in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, butyl lithium, thus forming an intermediate of formula (VI). The hydroxy group of the intermediates of formula (VIII) may be eliminated by using a suitable reagent such as for example, formamide in acetic acid or triethylsilane in trifluoroacetic acid, thus obtaining an intermediate of formula (IX) of which the nitro group may subsequently be reduced to an amino group which in turn may then be converted to the 6-azauracil group as described in EP-A-0,170,316, thus obtaining compounds of formula (I-a-1).

[0071] In addition to the reaction procedure shown in scheme 1, other compounds of formula (I) wherein X is a direct bond may be prepared starting from a ketone of formula (X) (Scheme 2). Reacting said ketone of formula (X) with an intermediate of formula (III) wherein X is a direct bond, said intermediates being represented by formula (III-a), results in a compound of formula (I) wherein R¹ is hydroxy and X is a direct bond, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-2). Said reaction may be performed in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, diisopropyl-acetamide or a mixture thereof, in the presence of a base such as, for example, butyl lithium, and optionally in the presence of chlorotriethylsilane. Alternatively, intermediate of formula (III-a) may first be transformed into a Grignard reagent, which may then be reacted with the ketone of formula (X). Said compounds of formula (I-a-2) may further be converted to compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is a C₁₋₆alkyloxy group represented by formula (I-a-3) using art-known group transformation reactions. The compounds of formula (I-a-2) may also be converted to compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is halo, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-4). A convenient procedure is converting the hydroxy group to a chlorine atom using a suitable reagent such as, for example, thionyl chloride. Said compounds of formula (I-a-4) may further be converted to compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is amino, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-5), using ammonia or a functional derivative thereof, in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran; or may be converted to compounds of formula (I-a-3) using art-known group transformation reactions. Reducing the ketone of formula (X) to its corresponding hydroxy derivative of formula (XI) using a suitable reducing agent such as, for example, sodiumborohydride in a reaction-inert solvent such as for example, water, an alcohol, tetrahydrofuran or a mixture thereof; subsequently converting said hydroxy group to a suitable leaving group W⁴ being for example a halogen, thus obtaining an intermediate of formula (XII), and finally reacting said intermediate of formula (XII) with an intermediate of formula (III) in a suitable solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, acetic acid, ethanol or a mixture thereof, and optionally in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene or sodiumbicarbonate, will result in a compound of formula (I) wherein R¹ is hydrogen, said compounds being represented by formula (I-b).

[0072] Alternatively, intermediates of formula (XI) can be directly transformed to compounds of formula (I-b) wherein X is S, said compounds being represented by formula (I-b-1), using a suitable mercapto containing reagent of formula R²—SH in a suitable reaction solvent such as, for example, trifluoroacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid or the like.

[0073] Also starting from a ketone of formula (X), compounds of formula (I) may be prepared wherein R¹ is hydrogen and —X—R² is —NH—C(═O)-(aryl or C₁₋₆alkyl), said compounds being represented by formula (I-c). To that effect, a ketone of formula (X) is reacted with formamide in formic acid or a functional derivative thereof, at elevated temperatures. The resulting intermediate of formula (XIII) is hydrolysed to the corresponding amine of formula (XIV), which may then be further reacted with an intermediate of formula (XV) wherein W³ is a suitable leaving group, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example pyridine, optionally in the presence of a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, dichloromethane.

[0074] Compounds of formula (I) wherein X is a direct bond and R² is a heterocycle, said compounds being generally represented by formula (I-d), can conveniently be prepared by cyclization of the appropriate intermediate. Both intramolecular and intermolecular cyclization procedures are feasable and scheme 3 lists several examples.

[0075] Starting point is the conversion of the cyano group of an intermediate of formula (XVI) to a carboxyl group thus forming intermediates of formula (XVII) using art-known techniques such as, for example, using a combination of sulfuric- and acetic acid in water, which in turn may be further reacted to acyl halides of formula (XVIII), for instance, the acyl chloride derivative may be prepared using thionyl chloride.

[0076] The intermediate of formula (XVIII) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-a) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to form an intermediate of formula (XX) in the presence of a base such as, for example, pyridine. Said intermediate of formula (XX) may further be cyclized to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally substituted benzothiazole or benzoxazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-1), in the presence of a suitable solvent such as, for example, acetic acid, at an elevated temperature, preferably at reflux temperature. It may be convenient to prepare compounds of formula (I-d-1) without isolating intermediates of formula (XX). Analogously, an intermediate of formula (XVIII) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-b) to form an intermediate of formula (XXI) which is cyclized to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R²is an optionally 3-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-2), in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, toluene, at an elevated temperature, preferably at reflux temperature. Also analogously, an intermediate of formula (XVIII) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-c) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to form an intermediate of formula (XXII) which is cyclized to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally substituted 1,2,4-triazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole or 1,3,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-3), in a suitable solvent such as, for example, phosphorousoxychloride.

[0077] Also analogously, an intermediate of formula (XVIII) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-d) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to form an intermediate of formula (XXIII) which is cyclized to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally amino substituted 1,2,4-triazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole or 1,3,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-4) in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example; toluene, and in the presence of an acid; or, which is cyclized to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is a disubstituted 1,3,4-triazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-5).

[0078] The nitrile derivative of formula (XVI) may also be reacted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride or a functional derivative thereof, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXIV) which may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XXV) to form a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally 5-substituted 1,2,4-triazole, 1,2,4-thiadiazole or 1,2,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-6), in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, methanol, butanol or a mixture thereof, and in the presence of a base such as, for example, sodium methanolate.

[0079] Compounds of formula (I-d) wherein the heterocycle is substituted 2-thiazolyl, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-7), can be prepared by reacting an intermediate of formula (XVI) with hydrogensulfide or a functional derivative thereof, in a reaction inert solvent such as, for example, pyridine, optionally in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, triethylamine, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXVI), which may subsequently be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XXVII) or a functional derivative thereof such as the ketal derivative thereof, in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, ethanol, and optionally in the presence of an acid such as, for example, hydrogenchloride.

[0080] Compounds of formula (I-d) wherein the heterocycle is substituted 5-thiazolyl and R¹ is hydrogen, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-8), can be prepared following the reaction procedure depicted in scheme 4.

[0081] Initially, an intermediate of formula (XXVIII) wherein P is a protective group such as, for example, a C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl group, is reacted with a thiazole derivative of formula (XXIX) in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, butyl lithium, in a reaction inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXX). It may be convenient to perform said reaction under an inert atmosphere at lower temperature, preferably at about −70° C. The hydroxy group and the protective group P of said intermediates (XXX) may be removed using art-known procedures such as, for example, stannous chloride and hydrochloric acid in acetic acid, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXXI), of which the amino group may further be converted to a 6-azauracil moiety according to the procedure described in EP-A-0,170,316, thus forming a compound of formula (I-d-8).

[0082] Also, compounds of formula (I-d) wherein the heterocycle is 4-thiazolyl, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-9), can be prepared following the reaction procedure depicted in scheme 5.

[0083] An intermediate of formula (XVIII) is reacted with a Grignard reagent of formula RCH₂MgBr or a functional derivative thereofto form an intermediate of formula (XXXII), which may be halogenated, preferably brominated, in the a-position using a suitable reagent such as trimethylphenylammonium tribromide in tetrahydrofuran, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXXIII). Said intermediate (XXXIII) may then be reacted with a thioamide of formula (XXXIV) to form a compound of formula (I-d-9), in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, ethanol, at an elevated temperature, preferably reflux temperature.

[0084] The compounds of formula (I) can also be converted into each other following art-known procedures of functional group transformation of which some examples are mentioned hereinabove.

[0085] The compounds of formula (I) may also be converted to the corresponding N-oxide forms following art-known procedures for converting a trivalent nitrogen into its N-oxide form. Said N-oxidation reaction may generally be carried out by reacting the starting material of formula (I) with 3-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)oxaziridine or with an appropriate organic or inorganic peroxide. Appropriate inorganic peroxides comprise, for example, hydrogen peroxide, alkali metal or earth alkaline metal peroxides, e.g. sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide; appropriate organic peroxides may comprise peroxy acids such as, for example, benzenecarboperoxoic acid or halo substituted benzenecarboperoxoic acid, e.g. 3-chlorobenzenecarboperoxoic acid, peroxoalkanoic acids, e.g. peroxoacetic acid, alkylhydroperoxides, e.g. t-butyl hydroperoxide. Suitable solvents are, for example, water, lower alkanols, e.g. ethanol and the like, hydrocarbons, e.g. toluene, ketones, e.g. 2-butanone, halogenated hydrocarbons, e.g. dichloromethane, and mixtures of such solvents.

[0086] Pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) may be obtained by the application of art-known procedures. Diastereomers may be separated by physical methods such as selective crystallization and chromatographic techniques, e.g. counter-current distribution, liquid chromatography and the like.

[0087] Some of the compounds of formula (I) and some of the intermediates in the present invention may contain an asymmetric carbon atom. Pure stereochemically isomeric forms of said compounds and said intermediates can be obtained by the application of art-known procedures. For example, diastereoisomers can be separated by physical methods such as selective crystallization or chromatographic techniques, e.g. counter current distribution, liquid chromatography and the like methods. Enantiomers can be obtained from racemic mixtures by first converting said racemic mixtures with suitable resolving agents such as, for example, chiral acids, to mixtures of diastereomeric salts or compounds; then physically separating said mixtures of diastereomeric salts or compounds by, for example, selective crystallization or chromatographic techniques, e.g. liquid chromatography and the like methods; and finally converting said separated diastereomeric salts or compounds into the corresponding enantiomers. Pure stereochemically isomeric forms may also be obtained from the pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the appropriate intermediates and starting materials, provided that the intervening reactions occur stereospecifically.

[0088] An alternative manner of separating the enantiomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) and intermediates involves liquid chromatography, in particular liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase.

[0089] Some of the intermediates and starting materials as used in the reaction procedures mentioned hereinabove are known compounds and may be commercially available or may be prepared according to art-known procedures.

[0090] IL-5, also known as eosinophil differentiating factor (EDF) or eosinophil colony stimulating factor (Eo-CSF), is a major survival and differentiation factor for eosinophils and therefore thought to be a key player in eosinophil infiltration into tissues. There is ample evidence that eosinophil influx is an important pathogenic event in bronchial asthma and allergic diseases such as, cheilitis, irritable bowel disease, eczema, urticaria, vasculitis, vulvitis, winterfeet, atopic dermatitis, pollinosis, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis; and other inflammatory diseases, such as eosinophilic syndrome, allergic angiitis, eosinophilic fasciitis, eosinophilic pneumonia, PIE syndrome, idiopathic eosinophilia, eosinophilic myalgia, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and the like diseases.

[0091] The present compounds also inhibit the production of other chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and -3 (MCP-1 and MCP-3). MCP-1 is known to attract both T-cells, in which IL-5 production mainly occurs, and monocytes, which are known to act synergetically with eosinophils (Carr et al., 1994, Immunology, 91, 3652-3656). MCP-3 also plays a primary role in allergic inflammation as it is known to mobilize and activate basophil and eosinophil leukocytes (Baggiolini et al., 1994, Immunology Today, 15(3), 127-133).

[0092] The present compounds have no or little effect on the production of other chemokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL -3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) indicating that the present IL-5 inhibitors do not act as broad-spectrum immunosuppressives.

[0093] The selective chemokine inhibitory effect of the present compounds can be demonstrated by in vitro chemokine measurements in human blood of which the test results for IL-5 are presented in the experimental part hereinafter. In vivo observations such as the inhibition of eosinophilia in mouse ear, the inhibition of blood eosinophilia in the Ascaris mouse model; the reduction of serum IL-5 protein production and splenic IL-5 mRNA expression induced by anti-CD3 antibody in mice and the inhibition of allergen- or Sephadex-induced pulmonary influx of eosinophils in guinea-pig are indicative for the usefulness of the present compounds in the treatment of eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases.

[0094] The present inhibitors of IL-5 production are orally active compounds.

[0095] In view of the above pharmacological properties, the compounds of formula (I) can be used as a medicine. In particular, the present compounds can be used in the manufacture of a medicament for treating eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases as mentioned hereinabove, more in particular bronchial asthma, atopic dertimatitis, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis.

[0096] In view of the utility of the compounds of formula (I), there is provided a method of treating warm-blooded animals, including humans, suffering from eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases, in particular bronchial asthma, atopic dertimatitis, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Said method comprises the systemic or topical administration of an effective amount of a compound of formula (I), a N-oxide form, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or a possible stereoisomeric form thereof, to warm-blooded animals, including humans.

[0097] The present invention also provides compositions for treating eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

[0098] To prepare the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention, a therapeutically effective amount of the particular compound, in base form or addition salt form, as the active ingredient is combined in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. These pharmaceutical compositions are desirably in unitary dosage form suitable, preferably, for systemic administration such as oral, percutaneous, or parenteral administration; or topical administration such as via inhalation, a nose spray, eye drops or via a cream, gel, shampoo or the like. For example, in preparing the compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations such as suspensions, syrups, elixirs and solutions: or solid carriers such as starches, sugars, kaolin, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of powders, pills, capsules and tablets. Because of their ease in administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form, in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. For parenteral compositions, the carrier will usually comprise sterile water, at least in large part, though other ingredients, for example, to aid solubility, may be included. Injectable solutions, for example, may be prepared in which the carrier comprises saline solution, glucose solution or a mixture of saline and glucose solution. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed. In the compositions suitable for percutaneous administration, the carrier optionally comprises a penetration enhancing agent and/or a suitable wettable agent, optionally combined with suitable additives of any nature in minor proportions, which additives do not cause any significant deleterious effects on the skin. Said additives may facilitate the administration to the skin and/or may be helpful for preparing the desired compositions. These compositions may be administered in various ways, e.g., as a transdermal patch, as a spot-on or as an ointment As appropriate compositions for topical application there may be cited all compositions usually employed for topically administering drugs e.g. creams, gellies, dressings, shampoos, tinctures, pastes, ointments, salves, powders and the like. Application of said compositions may be by aerosol, e.g. with a propellent such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, a freon, or without a propellent such as a pump spray, drops, lotions, or a semisolid such as a thickened composition which can be applied by a swab. In particular, semisolid compositions such as salves, creams, gellies, ointments and the like will conveniently be used.

[0099] It is especially advantageous to formulate the aforementioned pharmaceutical compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used in the specification and claims herein refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. Examples of such dosage unit forms are tablets (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, powder packets, wafers, injectable solutions or suspensions, teaspoonfuls, tablespoonfuls and the like, and segregated multiples thereof.

[0100] In order to enhance the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I) in pharmaceutical compositions, it can be advantageous to employ α-, β- or γ-cyclodextrins or their derivatives. Also co-solvents such as alcohols may improve the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I) in pharmaceutical compositions. In the preparation of aqueous compositions, addition salts of the subject compounds are obviously more suitable due to their increased water solubility.

[0101] Appropriate cyclodextrins are α-, β-, γ-cyclodextrins or ethers and mixed ethers thereof wherein one or more of the hydroxy groups of the anhydroglucose units of the cyclodextrin are substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, particularly methyl, ethyl or isopropyl, e.g. randomly methylated β-CD; hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl or hydroxybutyl; carboxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly carboxymethyl or carboxyethyl; C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, particularly acetyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl or carboxy-C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly carboxymethoxypropyl or carboxyethoxypropyl; C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly 2-acetyloxypropyl. Especially noteworthy as complexants and/or solubilizers are β-CD, randomly methylated β-CD, 2,6-dimethyl-β-CD, 2-hydroxyethyl-β-CD, 2-hydroxyethyl-γ-CD, 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-CD and (2-carboxymethoxy)propyl-β-CD, and in particular 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (2-HP-β-CD).

[0102] The term mixed ether denotes cyclodextrin derivatives wherein at least two cyclodextrin hydroxy groups are etherified with different groups such as, for example, hydroxypropyl and hydroxyethyl.

[0103] The average molar substitution (M.S.) is used as a measure of the average number of moles of alkoxy units per mole of anhydroglucose. The M.S.value can be determined by various analytical techniques, preferably, as measured by mass spectrometry, the M.S. ranges from 0.125 to 10.

[0104] The average substitution degree (D.S.) refers to the average number of substituted hydroxyls per anhydroglucose unit. The D.S. value can be determined by various analytical techniques, preferably, as measured by mass spectrometry, the D.S. ranges from 0.125 to 3.

[0105] Due to their high degree of selectivity as IL-5 inhibitors, the compounds of formula (I) as defined above, are also useful to mark or identify receptors. To this purpose, the compounds of the present invention need to be labelled, in particular by replacing, partially or completely, one or more atoms in the molecule by their radioactive isotopes. Examples of interesting labelled compounds are those compounds having at least one halo which is a radioactive isotope of iodine, bromine or fluorine; or those compounds having at least one ¹¹C-atom or tritium atom.

[0106] One particular group consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein R³ and/or R⁴ are a radioactive halogen atom. In principle, any compound of formula (I) containing a halogen atom is prone for radiolabelling by replacing the halogen atom by a suitable isotope. Suitable halogen radioisotopes to this purpose are radioactive iodides, e.g. ¹²²I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I; radioactive bromides, e.g. ⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁶Br, ⁷⁷Br and ⁸²Br, and radioactive fluorides, e.g. ¹⁸F. The introduction of a radioactive halogen atom can be performed by a suitable exchange reaction or by using any one of the procedures as described hereinabove to prepare halogen derivatives of formula (I).

[0107] Another interesting form of radiolabelling is by substituting a carbon atom by a ¹¹C-atom or the substitution of a hydrogen atom by a tritium atom.

[0108] Hence, said radiolabelled compounds of formula (I) can be used in a process of specifically marking receptor sites in biological material. Said process comprises the steps of (a) radiolabelling a compound of formula (I), (b) administering this radio-labelled compound to biological material and subsequently (c) detecting the emissions from the radiolabelled compound. The term biological material is meant to comprise every kind of material which has a biological origin. More in particular this term refers to tissue samples, plasma or body fluids but also to animals, specially warm-blooded animals, or parts of animals such as organs.

[0109] The radiolabelled compounds of formula (I) are also useful as agents for screening whether a test compound has the ability to occupy or bind to a particular receptor site. The degree to which a test compound will displace a compound of formula (I) from such a particular receptor site will show the test compound ability as either an agonist, an antagonist or a mixed agonist/antagonist of said receptor.

[0110] When used in in vivo assays, the radiolabelled compounds are administered in an appropriate composition to an animal and the location of said radiolabelled compounds is detected using imaging techniques, such as, for instance, Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and the like. In this manner the distribution of the particular receptor sites throughout the body can be detected and organs containing said receptor sites can be visualized by the imaging techniques mentioned hereinabove. This process of imaging an organ by administering a radiolabelled compound of formula (I) and detecting the emissions from the radioactive compound also constitutes a part of the present invention.

[0111] In general, it is contemplated that a therapeutically effective daily amount would be from 0.01 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg body weight, in particular from 0.05 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg body weight. A method of treatment may also include administering the active ingredient on a regimen of between two or four intakes per day.

Experimental Part

[0112] Hereinafter, the term ‘RT’ means room temperature, ‘THF’ means tetrahydrofuran, ‘EtOAc’ means ethylacetate, ‘DMF’ means N,N-dimethylformamide, ‘MIK’ means methylisobutyl ketone, ‘DIPE’ means diisopropylether, and ‘HOAc’ means acetic acid.

[0113] A. Preparation of the intermediate compounds

EXAMPLE A.1

[0114] a) A solution of 4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzeneacetonitrile (0.114 mol) in THF (100 ml) was added dropwise at RT to a solution of 1,2,3-trichloro-5-nitrobenzene (0.114 mol) and N,N,N-triethylbenzenemethanaminium chloride (3 g) in NaOH (150 ml) and THF (100 ml). The mixture was stirred for 2 hours, then poured out on ice, acidified with a concentrated HCl solution and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 40.4 g (86.5%) of (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-nitrobenzene-acetonitrile (interm. 1).

[0115] b) A solution of intermediate (1) (0.0466 mol), iodomethane (0.0606 mol), KOH (0.1864 mol) and N,N,N-triethylbenzenemethanaminium chloride (0.0466 mol) in toluene (200 ml) was stirred at 50° C. for 2 hours. The mixture was poured out into water, acidified with HCl 3N and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: cyclohexane/EtOAc 90/10). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 11 g (55%) of

[0116] (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-α-methyl-4-nitrobenzene-acetonitrile (interm. 2).

[0117] c) A mixture of intermediate (2) (0.0259 mol) in methanol (200 ml) was hydrogenated at 40° C. overnight with platinum-on-charcoal catalyst 1% (1 g) as a catalyst in the presence of thiophene 10% in ethanol (1 ml). After uptake of hydrogen (3 equivalents), the catalyst was filtered through celite, washed with CH₃OH and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 10 g (98%) of (±)-4-amino-2,6-dichloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-α-methylbenzeneacetonitrile (interm. 3).

EXAMPLE A.2

[0118] a) A solution of NaNO₂ (0.0243 mol) in water (10 ml) was added dropwise at 5° C. to a solution of intermediate (3) (0.0243 mol) in HOAc (75 ml) and concentrated HCl (20 ml). The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 35 minutes and then added dropwise to a solution of ethyl cyanoacetylcarbamoate (0.0326 mol) and sodium acetate (112 g) in water (1300 ml), cooled to 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 45 minutes. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with water and taken up in CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 15.2 g of (±)-ethyl 2-cyano-2-[[3,5-dichloro-4-[1-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]-1-cyanoethyl]phenyl]hydrozono]-1-oxoethylcarbamate (interm. 4).

[0119] b) A mixture of intermediate (4) (0.0271 mol) and potassiumacetate (0.0285 mol) in HOAc (150 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours and then poured out on ice. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with water and taken up in EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 12 g (86%) of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[1-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-cyanoethyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carbonitrile (interm. 5).

[0120] c) A mixture of intermediate (5) (0.0223 mol) in HCl (40 ml) and HOAc (150 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours and then poured out into ice water. The precipitate was filtered off, taken up in CH₂Cl₂ and CH₃OH, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 11.4 g (96%) of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[1-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-cyanoethyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 6).

[0121] d) A mixture of intermediate (6) (0.05 mol) in 2-mercaptoacetic acid (60 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 140 minutes. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to RT, then poured out into ice-water. The mixture was stirred, then decanted. CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (300 ml, 90/10) was added to the residue. The organic layer was separated, washed with an aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (200 ml) and with water, then dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 28 g of (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneacetonitrile (interm. 7). (±)-2-chloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-5,α-dimethylbenzeneacetonitrile was prepared following the same procedure as described in example A2d (interm. 8).

[0122] e) A mixture of intermediate (7) (0.0106 mol) and triethylamine (0.0106 mol) in pyridine (70 ml) was stirred at 60° C. Gaseous H₂S was bubbled through the mixture for 8 hours. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. overnight. Gaseous H₂S was bubbled through the mixture for another 10 hours. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. overnight. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in EtOAc, washed with a diluted HCl solution and with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2.5 g (45%) of (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifuoromethyl)phenyl]-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneethanethioamide (interm. 9).

[0123] Following the same procedure there were also prepared:

[0124] (±)-2-chloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]-5,α-dimethylbenzeneethanethioamide (interm. 10);

[0125] (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneethanethioamide (interm. 11);

[0126] (±)-2-chloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]-α-methylbenzeneethanethioamide (interm. 12);

[0127] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-methyl-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneethanethioamide (interm. 13);

[0128] (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneethanethioamide (interm. 14);

[0129] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneethanethioamide (interm. 15).

EXAMPLE A.3

[0130] a) A mixture of intermediate (1) (0.138 mol) in methanol (300 ml) was hydrogenated at RT under a 3 bar pressure for 1 hour with Raney Nickel (50 g) as a catalyst in the presence of thiophene solution 10% in ethanol (5 ml). After uptake of hydrogen (3 equivalents), the catalyst was filtered through celite, washed with methanol and CH₂Cl₂ and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 49.5 g (94%) of (±)-4-amino-2,6-dichloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzeneacetonitrile (interm. 16).

[0131] b) (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneethanethioamide was prepared following the same procedure as decribed in A1c and A2a through A2e (interm. 17).

[0132] c) Acetic anhydride (0.1268 mol) was added dropwise at RT to a solution of intermediate (16) (0.0634 mol) in toluene (200 ml). The mixture was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours, then cooled, poured out into H₂O and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, washed with K₂CO₃ 10% and with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 27.9 g (±)-N-[3,5-dichloro-4-[[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]cyanomethyl]phenyl]acetamide (interm. 18; mp. 172° C.).

EXAMPLE A.4

[0133] a) n-Butyllithium 1.6 M (0.135 mol) was added dropwise at −70° C. under N₂ flow to a solution of 3-bromopyridine (0.11 mol) in 1,1′-oxybisethane (250 ml). The mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 1 hour. A solution of 2,4′-dichloro-4-nitrodiphenylmethanone (0.0844 mol) in THF (200 ml) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 3 hours, then poured out into water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: cyclohexane/EtOAc 60/40 to 100/0). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 13.7 g (43%) of (±)-α-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinemethanol (interm. 19).

[0134] b) A mixture of intermediate (19) (0.0373 mol) in methanol (150 ml) was hydrogenated at RT under a 3 bar pressure for 4 hours with Raney Nickel (14 g) as a catalyst in the presence of thiophene solution 1% in ethanol (2.5 ml). After uptake of hydrogen (3 equivalents), the catalyst was filtered through celite and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 12.06 g (94%) of (±)-α-(4-amino-2-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinemethanol (interm. 20).

[0135] c) Formamide (60 ml) was added to a mixture of intermediate (20) (0.0349 mol) in HOAc (60 ml). The mixture was stirred at 150° C. for 6 hours, cooled, poured out into ice water, basified with NH₄OH and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 14.1 g of (±)-N-[3-chloro-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]formamide (interm. 21).

[0136] d) A mixture of intermediate (21) (0.0349 mol) in HCl 6N (150 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 4 hours, then cooled, poured out on ice, basified with NH₄OH and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/NH₄OH 98.5/1.5/0.1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 7.2 g (63%) of (±)-3-chloro4[(4-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinylmethyl]benzenamine (interm. 22).

[0137] e) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid was prepared following the same procedure as decribed in A1c and A2a through A2c (interm. 23).

EXAMPLE A.5

[0138] a) A mixture of (±)-α-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-methanol (0.0397 mol) and SnCl₂ (0.2382 mol) in HOAc (150 ml) and HCl (150 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours, then cooled, poured out on ice, basified with NH₄OH, filtered over celite and extracted with CH₂Cl₂ and CH₃OH. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 12 g (91%) of (±)-3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]benzenamine (interm. 24).

[0139] b) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl) (1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 25); (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)methyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 26); and (±)-2-[3-chloro[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-thiazolyl)methyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 27) were prepared following the same procedure as decribed in A1c and A2a through A2c.

EXAMPLE A.6

[0140] a) α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-pyridinemethanol (0.0512 mol), N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-acetamide (0.102 mol) and polyphosphoric acid (210 g) were stirred at 140° C. for 90 minutes. The mixture was cooled to 100° C., poured out into ice water, basified with NH₄OH and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in 2-propanone and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH NH₄OH 97.5/2.5/0.1). The pure fraction was collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 17.94 g (87%) of (±)-N-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-4-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]-acetamide (interm. 28).

[0141] b) The following products were prepared as described in A4c through A4e:

[0142] (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-4-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 29);

[0143] (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-2-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 30);

[0144] (±)-2-[3-chloro-4[(2-chlorophenyl)-2-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 31);

[0145] (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 32); and

[0146] (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 33).

EXAMPLE A.7

[0147] a) A mixture of 4-isothiocyanato-2-(trifluoromethyl)-α-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-benzeneacetonitrile (0.0516 mol), NaOH solution, 50% (0.155 mol) and N,N,N-triethyl-benzenemethanaminium chloride (0.0052 mol) in toluene (250 ml) was stirred for 4 hours under O₂ at RT. Ice-water and HOAc (9.3 ml) were added. Toluene was added and the reaction mixture was stirred vigorously. The layers were separated. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was stirred in hexane. The precipitate was filtered off, washed, and dried, yielding 15.8 g (97.2%) of (amino-2-chlorophenyl)[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanone (interm. 34).

[0148] b) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 35) was prepared following the procedures described in A1c and A2a through A2d.

[0149] c) A mixture of intermediate (35) (0.013 mol) in methanol (50 ml) and THF (50 ml) was stirred at RT. NaBH₄ (0.013 mol) was added portionwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour, then acidified (to pH=±6) with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 5.3 g (94.2%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]hydroxymethyl]phenyl-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (intern. 36). In a similar way, there was also prepared 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-fluorophenyl)-hydroxymethyl]phenyl-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 37).

[0150] d) Thionylchloride (5 ml) was added dropwise to a mixture of intermediate (30) (0.012 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (50 ml), stirred at RT. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated. Toluene was added and azeotroped on the rotary evaporator, yielding 4.9 g (90.4%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 38).

[0151] Following the same procedure, there were also prepared:

[0152] 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[chloro[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interim. 39);

[0153] (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolylmethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 40); and

[0154] (±)-2-[4-[(2-benzothiazolyl)chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl-3-chlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 41).

EXAMPLE A.8

[0155] a) K₂CO₃ (0.1786 mol) was added to a solution of intermediate (18) (0.0638 mol) in dimethylsulfoxide (100 ml) and water (10 ml). Air was bubbled through the mixture for 72 hours. The mixture was poured out into H₂O. The precipitate was filtered off and taken up in EtOAc. The organic solution was washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99.25/10.75). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 18.6 g (72%) of N-[3,5-dichloro-4-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]phenyl]acetamide (interm. 42).

[0156] b) 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]phenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylic acid (interm. 43) was prepared following the procedure as described in A6b.

[0157] c) 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]phenyl-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 44) was prepared following the procedure as described in A2d.

[0158] d) 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]hydroxymethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 45) was prepared following the procedure as described in A7c.

EXAMPLE A 9

[0159] a) A mixture of 4-chloro-α-2-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-phenyl]-α-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzeneacetonitrile (0.009 mol) in H₂SO₄ (50 ml), HOAc (50 ml) and H₂O (40 ml) was stirred and refluxed overnight. The mixture was poured out into ice water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 4.2 g of (±)-2-chloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]-α-methylbenzeneacetic acid (interm. 46).

[0160] b) A mixture of intermediate (46) (0.009 mol) in thionyl chloride (25 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 2.5 hours. The solvent was evaporated, yielding (±)-2-chloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]-α-methylbenzeneacetyl chloride (interm. 47).

[0161] Following the same procedure, there were also prepared:

[0162] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-benzeneacetyl chloride (interm. 48); and

[0163] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)4(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneacetyl chloride (interm. 49).

[0164] c) A solution of intermediate (48) (0.011 mol) in 2-propanone (25 ml) was added at RT to a solution of N-hydroxy benzenecarboximidamide (0.011 mol) and K₂CO₃ (0.011 mol) in 2-propanone (25 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT overnight. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with water and taken up in CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.4 g (25%) of (±)-(iminophenylmethyl)amino 2-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)benzeneacetate (interm. 50).

[0165] Following the same procedure, there was also prepared:

[0166] (±)-(iminophenylmethyl)amino 2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneacetate (ester) (interm. 51).

[0167] d) A solution of intermediate (48) (0.0365 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (70 ml) was added at RT to a solution of 2-aminophenol (0.073 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (280 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 12 hours, then washed with HCl 3N and with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 3.8 g (21%) of (±)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzeneacetamide (interm. 52).

[0168] In a similar manner there were also prepared:

[0169] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneacetic acid 2-benzoylhydrazide (interm. 53);

[0170] (±)-(benzoylamino)-2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazine-2(3H)-yl)benzeneacetamide (interm. 54);

[0171] (±)-2-chloro-α-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneacetic acid 2-benzoylhydrazide (interm. 55);

[0172] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-α-methylbenzeneacetonitrile (interm. 56);

[0173] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-benzeneacetic acid 2-acetylhydrazide (interm. 57);

[0174] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-N-(2-phenyl-2-oxoethyl)benzeneacetamide (interm. 58);

[0175] (±)-2-[[2-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-3(2H)-yl)phenyl](4chlorophenyl)acetyl]-N-phenylhydrazinecarbothioamide (interm. 59);

[0176] (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-α-methylbenzeneacetic acid 2-benzoylhydrazide (interm. 60); and

[0177] (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4,-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-N-(2-phenyl-2-oxoethyl)benzeneacetamide (interm. 61).

EXAMPLE A 10

[0178] a) A mixture of 2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5-(2H,4H)-dione (0.03 mol), thiourea (0.03 mol) and NaHCO₃ (0.03 mol) in DMF (75 ml) was stirred for 18 hours at RT. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in water, filtered off, washed with water, yielding 12.3 g. (±)-[2-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]-4(chloro-phenyl)methyl carbamimidothioate (interm. 62).

[0179] b) A mixture of NaOH (0.25 mol) in water (100 ml) was stirred at RT. (0.03 mol) was added and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 18 hours at RT, neutralized, and the precipitate was filtered off and dissolved in CH₂Cl₂. The aqueous phase was separated. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered, and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/THF 92/3/5). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂C₂/CH₃OH THF 92/3/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off and dried, yielding 4.2 g (37%) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)mercaptomethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 63).

EXAMPLE A.11

[0180] a) A mixture of 2-[3-chloro-4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)phenyl]-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.081 mol) in formic acid (120 ml) and formamide (300 ml) was stirred for 16 hours at 160 ° C. The reaction mixture was cooled, poured out into water (600 ml) and the resulting precipitate was filtered off and dried. This fraction was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, and dried, yielding 8.78 g (22.5%) of (±)-N-[[2-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl](4-chlorophenyl)methyl]formamide (interm. 64).

[0181] b) A mixture of intermediate (64) (0.277 mol) in HCl (200 ml, 36%) and HOAc (1000 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 1 hour. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up into water, then basified with K₂CO₃. The precipitate was filtered off, dried and stirred in boiling ethanol, cooled, filtered off and dried. The precipitate was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in boiling CH₃CN, then cooled, filtered off and dried, yielding 1.1 g (±)-2-[4-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3-chlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)dione (interm. 65).

EXAMPLE A 12

[0182] NaOCH₃ (0.189 mol; 30% in CH₃OH) was added to a solution of hydroxylamine (0.189 mol) in ethanol (105 ml) The mixture was stirred at RT for 15 minutes and then filtered. The fitrate was added to a mixture of 2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2-(3H)-yl)benzeneacetonitrile (0.054 mol) in ethanol (55 ml). The mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 1 hour, stirred and refluxed for 2 hours and stirred at RT overnight. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 20.3 g of (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-N′-hydroxybenzeneethanimidamide (interm. 66).

EXAMPLE A13

[0183] a) Trifluoro acetic acid (100 ml), previously cooled to 5° C., was added dropwise at 0° C./5° C. under N₂ flow to (±)-1,1-dimethylethyl-2-[2-[2,6-dichloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H) -yl)phenyl]-2-(4-chlorophenyl)acetyl]hydrazinecarboxylate (0.035 mol). The mixture was allowed to warm to RT and then stirred for 1 hour. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in H₂O. The precipitate was filtered off, dried, washed with DIPE and dried, yielding 11 g (70%) of R142321 (interm. 67).

[0184] b) A mixture of 3-hydroxy-benzoyl chloride (0.0124 mol) in THF (25 ml) was added dropwise at 10° C. under N₂ flow to a solution of intermediate 67 (0.0113 mol) and triethylamine (0.0452 mol) in THF (30 ml). The mixture was brought to RT. HCl 3N was added and the mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in ethanol. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 3 g (47%) of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(3-hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazino]-2-oxoethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 68)

EXAMPLE A14

[0185] a) A mixture of 2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4,-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-benzeneacetyl chloride (0.05 mol) in THF (200 ml) was stirred at −75° C. A solution of chloroethyl magnesium (0.1 mol; 2 M/THF) in THF (50 ml) was added dropwise at −75° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 90 minutes, then the temperature was raised to −20 ° C. A saturated aqueous NH₄Cl solution was added dropwise. Water was added and the product was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was filtered over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). Two fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 3.8 g (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxobutyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 69).

[0186] b) A mixture of intermediate 69 (0.005 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (10 ml) and diethyl ether (20 ml) was stirred at RT. Br₂ (0.005 mol) was added dropwise at RT and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 15 hours at RT. This mixture was washed 3 times with water and CH₂Cl₂ was added. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 2.6 g (±)-2-[4-[3-bromo-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxobutyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5 (2H,4H)-dione (interm. 70).

EXAMPLE A15

[0187] a) n-Butyl lithium (0.045 mol) was added at −70° C. under N₂ flow to a solution of 4-phenyl-thiazole (0.045 mol) in diethyl ether (50 ml). The mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 90 minutes. A solution of 2-[3-chloro-4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5-(2H,4H)-dione (0.015 mol) in THF (10 ml) was added at −70° C. The mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 1 hour, then poured out into ice water, neutralized with HCl 3N and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography oversilica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The desired fraction was repurified by HPLC (eluent: CH₃OH/(NH₄OAc 1% in H₂O) 80/20). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.83 g (11%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-hydroxy(4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 71).

[0188] b) A mixture of intermediate 71 (0.0076 mol) in thionyl chloride (35 ml) was stirred at 50° C. for 4 hours and then brought to RT. The solvent was evaporated, yielding (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)(5 -chloro-4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl)methyl]-phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (interm. 72).

EXAMPLE A16

[0189] a) 1-Chloromethoxy-2-methoxy-ethane (0.147 mol) was added dropwise at 15° C. to a solution of 3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol (0.134 mol) and K₂CO₃ (0.134 mol) in DMF (200 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 24 hours, then poured out into H₂O and extracted with diethyl ether. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 67.27 g (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-[4,5-dihydro-4-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]benzeneacetonitrile (interm. 73).

[0190] b) NaH (0.063 mol) was added at 10° C. under N₂ flow to a solution of intermediate 73 (0.0485 mol) in DMF (100 ml). The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. A solution of 2-chloromethyl-4-phenyl-thiazole (0.063 mol) in DMF (100 ml) was added. The mixture was allowed to warm to 15° C. over a 2-hour period while stirring, then poured out into ice water and extracted with diethyl ether. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: cyclohexane/EtOAc 65/35). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 15 g (52%) of (±)-α-[2-chloro-4-[4,5-dihydro-4-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl]-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]phenyl]-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-phenyl-2-thiazolpropanenitrile (interm. 74)

[0191] c) A mixture of intermediate 74 (0.0186 mol) in H₂SO₄ (160 ml), acetic acid (160 ml) and H₂O (25 ml) was stirred and heated for 48 hours. The mixture was cooled and poured out into H₂O. The precipitate was filtered off, taken up in EtOAc and the mixture was separated into its layers. The organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, to give residue 1. The aqueous layer was evaporated partially and then cooled. The precipitate was filtered off and taken up in EtOAc. The organic solution was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, to give residue 2. Residue 1 and 2 were combined, yielding 8.97 g (86%) of (±)-α-[2-chloro-4-[4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]phenyl]-α-(4-chlorophenyl)4phenyl-2-thiazolpropanoic acid (interm. 75).

EXAMPLE A17

[0192] a) NaH (0.0772 mol) was added portionwise at 0° C. under N₂ flow to a mixture of 4-chloro-benzeneacetonitrile (0.0643 mol) in DMF (50 ml). The mixture was stirred at 0° C. under N₂ flow for 1 hour. A mixture of 1,3-dibromo-2-methoxy-5-nitro-benzene (0.0643 mol) in DMF (50 ml) was added at 0° C. under N₂ flow. The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 hours, hydrolized with H₂O and HCl 3N and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/cyclohexane 60/40). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 12.8 g (46%) of (±)-2,6-dibromo-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-nitrobenzeneacetonitrile (interm. 76).

[0193] b) TiCl₃ (0.13 mol; 15% in H₂O) was added dropwise at RT to a solution of intermediate 76 (0.026 mol) in THF (200 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 2 hours, poured out into H₂O and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O and with K₂CO₃ 10%, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. 2 g of this fraction was crystallized from diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.3 g (±)-4-amino-2,6-dibromo-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-benzeneacetonitrile (interm. 77).

[0194] B. Preparation of the final compounds

EXAMPLE B1

[0195] A mixture of 2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.0075 mol) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (0.025 mol) in 2-methylpropanol (25 ml) was stirred for 72 hours at 80° C. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97.5/2.5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 0.8 g (25%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chloro-phenyl)(2-methylpropoxy)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 133).

EXAMPLE B2

[0196] a) A mixture of 2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.015 mol) and 2-mercaptopyridine (0.04 mol) in THF (100 ml) was stirred overnight at RT. 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (0.03 mol) was added and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours. NaOH (1 N; 50 ml) was added. The mixture was stirred for 5 minutes, then extracted with EtOAc. The separated organic layer was washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The aqueous layers were combined, then acidified (pH=6) with HCl (1 N). This mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/THF/CH₃OH 94/5/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred overnight in diethyl ether. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 2.98 g (43%) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyridinyl-thio)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 93).

[0197] b) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione was prepared using the same procedure as in example B2a, but using NaHCO₃ as a base and DMF as a solvent (compound 94).

[0198] c) Sodium (0.075 mol) was added portionwise to ethanol (50 ml) under N₂ atmosphere and this mixture was stirred until complete dissolution. Ethyl 2-amino-3-mercaptopropanoate (0.075 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours at RT. The solvent was evaporated, THF (50 ml) was added to the residue, and a solution of 2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.015 mol) in THF (50 ml) was added. 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (0.03 mol) was added and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred overnight at RT. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in water and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. This fraction was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₂OH 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, washed and dried, yielding (±)-ethyl α-[[[(4-chlorophenyl)[2-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]methyl]thio]methyl]glycine (compound 95).

[0199] d) A mixture of intermediate 39 (0.00618 mol), 5-amino-4-phenyl-2(3H)-thiazole-thione (0.00742 mol) and 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10-octahydropyrimido[1,2-a]azepine (0.0124 mol) in dry THF (50 ml) and DMF (50 ml) was stirred and refluxed for four days under N₂ atmosphere. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up into CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (95/5). The organic solution was washed twice with a saturated aqueous NaCl solution, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97.5/2.5). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was repurified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 100/0 first 30 minutes, then 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in boiling CH₃CN, then allowed to cool to RT. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with CH₃CN, then dried, yielding 0.24 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[[4chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl][(2,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-2-thioxo-1H-imidazol-4-yl)thio]-methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 400).

EXAMPLE B3

[0200] a) A mixture of 2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.015 mol) and 1-methylpiperazine (0.04 mol) in DMF (100 ml) was stirred for 24 hours at 80° C. The solvent was evaporated. MIK was added and azeotroped on the rotary evaporator. The residue was stirred in water, then extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The separated organic layer was washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/THF 90/5/5 and CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred overnight in DIPE, then the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from EtOAc. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with EtOAc, DIPE, then dried, yielding 1.19 g (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl) methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5 (2H,4H)-dione (compound 118).

[0201] b) A mixture of 2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.015 mol), 4-hydroxypiperidine (0.02 mol) and sodiumbicarbonate (0.02 mol) in DMF (100 ml) was stirred for 16 hours at 80° C. The mixture was cooled. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by columnchromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off and dried, yielding 0.070 g (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(4hydroxy-1-piperidinyl) methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 119).

[0202] c) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione was prepared according to the procedure described in example B3a but using CH₃CN as a solvent instead of DMF (compound 51).

[0203] d) Methanol (100 ml) was stirred at RT and sodium (0.09 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred until complete dissolution. (1H-imidazol-2-yl)methanamine (0.045 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. NaCl was removed by filtration and the filtrate was evaporated. Toluene was added and azeotroped on the rotary evaporator. 2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.015 mol) and acetonitrile (50 ml) were added. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 20 hours. The solvent was evaporated, the residue was stirred in water, and extracted with CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (90/10). The separated organic layer was dried, filtered, and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in CH₃CN, filtered off, washed with DIPE, then dried, yielding 1.1 g (16.5%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[(1H-imidazol-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 50).

[0204] e) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyrimidinylamino)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione was prepared according to the procedure described in example B3a but using acetic acid as a solvent instead of DMF (compound 49).

[0205] f) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[(1-methyl)-4-piperidinyl)amino]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4 H)-dione was prepared according to the procedure described in example B3a but using THF as a solvent instead of DMF (compound 48).

[0206] g) A mixture of 2-[4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.00719 mol) and 2-pyrimidinamine (0.00863 mol) was heated for 2 hours at 150° C. in an autoclave. The mixture was cooled to RT. This fraction was taken up into CH₂Cl₂, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC (eluent: (0.5% NH₄OAc in H₂O)/CH₃OH/CH₃CN gradient elution from 70/15/15 over 0/50/50 to 0/0/100). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was coevaporated with EtOAc. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, washed and dried, yielding 0.21 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[(2-pyrimidinyl)amino]-methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5 (2H,4H)-dione (comp. 413).

EXAMPLE B4

[0207] a) n-Butyllithium, 1.6M (0.0414 mol) was added dropwise at −70° C. under N₂ flow to a solution of 1-methyl-1H-imidazole (0.0414 mol) in diethyl ether (50 ml). The mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 90 minutes. A solution of 2-[3-chloro-4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.0138 mol) in THF (100 ml) was added dropwise. The mixture was allowed to warm to −40° C., then poured out into ice water, neutralized with HCl 3N and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue (5.88 g) was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in CH₃CN and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.36 g (±)-2-[3-chloro[4[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione monohydrate (compound 120).

[0208] b) n-Butyllithium, 1.6M (0.0203 mol) was added dropwise at −70° C. under N₂ flow to a solution of 1-methyl-1H-imidazole (0.0203 mol) in THF (60 ml). The mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 40 minutes. Chlorotriethylsilane (0.203 mol) was added quickly and the mixture was allowed to warm to 0° C. on an ice bath. The mixture was cooled to −70° C. and n-butyllithium (0.0203 mol) was added dropwise. The mixture was allowed to warm to −20° C. and cooled to −70° C. A solution of 2-[3-chloro-4(4-chlorobenzoyl)-phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.00812 mol) in THF (20 ml) was added dropwise. The mixture was allowed to warm to −5° C., then poured out into a satured NH₄Cl solution and ice, and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 96/4). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue (0.85 g) was crystallized from 2-propanone and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.47 g (13%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione monohydrate (compound 121).

[0209] c) n-Butyllithium (0.1 mol) was added dropwise at −70° C. under N₂ flow to a solution of N,N-dimethylethanamine (0.1 mol) in THF (100 ml). The mixture was stirred at −20° C. for 30 minutes and cooled again to −70° C. Acetonitrile (0.1 mol) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at −20° C. for 1 hour and cooled again to −70° C. A solution of 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.05 mol) in THF (100 ml) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 1 hour, then poured out into NH₄Cl 10% and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). Two pure fractions were collected and their solvents were evaporated, yielding 1.62 g (8%) of (±)-2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-[4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl]-α-hydroxybenzenepropanenitrile (compound 122).

EXAMPLE B5

[0210] a) A mixture of intermediate (25) (0.0289 mol) in 2-mercaptoacetic acid (15 ml) was stirred at 150° C. for 3 hours and then cooled. The mixture was poured out in water, neutralized, and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. A sample of this product was crystallized from 2-propanone and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.2 g (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 123).

[0211] b) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinylmethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione was prepared according to the procedure described in example B5a but using 1,2-dimethoxyethane instead of 2-mercaptoacetic acid (compound 124).

EXAMPLE B6

[0212] a) A mixture of intermediate (50) (0.0027 mol) in toluene (100 ml) was stirred and refluxed using a Dean-Stark apparatus. The mixture was decanted and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.04 g (78%) (±)-2-[(3-chloro-4[(4-chlorophenyl)(3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4 H)-dione (compound 125).

[0213] b) (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4[(4-chlorophenyl)(3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 429; mp. 128° C.) was prepared analogous to the procedure described in example B6.a except that the starting product was mixed with p-toluenesulfonic acid and dimethylsulfoxide instead of toluene.

EXAMPLE B7

[0214] A mixture of intermediate (66) (0.022 mol) and sodium methoxide, 30% in methanol (0.033 mol) in 1-butanol (350 ml) was stirred at RT for 30 minutes. Molecular sieves (12.6 g) and then EtOAc (0.033 mol) were added. The mixture was stirred and refluxed overnight, filtered over celite and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in CH₂Cl₂, washed with HCl 3N and then with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from 2-propanone and DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 2.1 g (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5 (2H,4H)-dione (compound 126).

EXAMPLE B8

[0215] a) Intermediate (54) (0.00294 mol) was added portionwise at 5° C. to phosphoryl chloride (15 ml). The mixture was allowed to warm to RT, then stirred at 80° C. overnight and cooled. The solvent was evaporated. Ice water was added and the mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97.5/2.5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from 2-propanone and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.5 g (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-phenyl-1,3,4oxadizol-2-yl)methyl]-phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 127).

[0216] b) Compound 127 (0.0114 mol) was dissolved in hexane/ethanol/methanol 50/25/25 (400 ml), then separated into its enantiomers by chiral column chromatography over a Chiralpak AS column (230 g, 20 μm, I.D.: 5 cm; eluent: hexane/ethanol +0.1% CF₃COOH/methanol 66/17/17). Two fraction groups were collected. Fraction 1 was added to water. The organic solvent was evaporated and the aqueous concentrate was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The solvent of the separated organic phase was evaporated. Fraction 2 was treated analogously. Both residues, each individually, were post-purified over Lichroprep 200 (eluent gradient: CH₂Cl ₂/CH₃OH). Two pure fraction groups were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2.86 g (A)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-phenyl-1,3,4oxadizol-2-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 189; α₂₀ ^(D)=+50.98° (c=24.42 mg/5 ml in CH₃OH)) and 1.75 g (B)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadizol-2-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 190; α₂₀ ^(D)=−50.83° (c=22.92 mg/5 ml in CH₃OH)).

EXAMPLE B9

[0217] A mixture of intermediate (59) (0.0108 mol) in toluene (120 ml) and methanesulfonic acid (1.05 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 4 hours, cooled, poured out into water, decanted, and basified to pH=8 with NH₄OH, while stirring. The aqueous layer was neutralized and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was washed with water, dried, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was repurified by HPLC (eluent: CH₃OH/H₂O 80/20). Two pure fractions were collected and their solvents were evaporated, yielding 0.44 g (8%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-[5-(phenylamino)-1,3,4-thiadizol-2-yl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 129), and 0.27 g (5%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl) (4,5-dihydro-4-phenyl-5-thioxo-1H-1,2,4triazol-3-yl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 128)

EXAMPLE B10

[0218] a) A mixture of intermediate (65) (0.00275 mol) and triethylamine (0.003 mol) in THF (20 ml) was stirred at RT. Benzoyl chloride (0.00275 mol) in THF (10 ml) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 3 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in H₂O and CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was dried, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was repurified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, washed with DIPE and dried. The residue was repurified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off, washed and dried, yielding 0.4 g (±)-N-[[2-chloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-3(2H)-yl)phenyl](4-chlorophenyl)methyl]benzamide (compound 47).

[0219] b) A mixture of intermediate 65 (0.00275 mol) and 2-methylthiothiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine (0.0035 mol) was heated up to 170° C. and stirred for 2 days. The reaction mixture was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (90/10). The precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, washed and dried, yielding 0.1 g of (±)-2-[3-chloro4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[(thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-2-yl)-amino]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione. (comp. 410)

EXAMPLE B11

[0220] A solution of intermediate (63) (0.0080 mol), 6-chloro-2,4-dimethoxypyrimidine (0.0084 mol) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (0.0088 mol) in DMF (50 ml) was stirred for 4 days at RT. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was stirred in water and this mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was repurified by reversed-phase liquid chromatography over silica gel (eluent: (0.5% NH₄OAc in H₂O)/CH₃OH/CH₃CN 28/36/36, upgrading to 0/50/50). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, washed, then dried, yielding 0.4 g (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[(2,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)thio]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 96).

EXAMPLE B12

[0221] A solution of intermediate (48) (0.012 mol) in pyridine (45 ml) was added to a solution of 2-mercapto-2-benzenamine (0.0132 mol) in pyridine (30 ml). The mixture was stirred and heated at 60° C. for 18 hours, poured out into HCl 3N, and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.23 g (21%) (±)-2-[4-[2-benzothiazolyl-(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3-chlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 130).

EXAMPLE B13

[0222] a) A mixture of 2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneethanethionate (0.00453 mol) and 2-bromo-1-phenylethanone (0.00498 mol) in ethanol (80 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in CH₂Cl₂, washed with K₂CO₃ 10% and then with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/NH₄OH 90/10/0.5;). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.05 g (43%) of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 38).

[0223] b) (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro4-[(4-chlorophenyl) [5-(1-methylethyl)-4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl]methyl]-phenyl]-1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 241) was prepared according to example B13.a and in addition triethylamine was used as a base.

[0224] c) 2,6-Dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneethanethioamide (0.031 mol) was added at RT to a solution of (±)-1,1-di-methylethyl α-bromo-β-oxo-benzenepropanoate (0.0465 mol) and K₂CO₃ (0.093 mol) in CH₃CN (190 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 3.5 hours. H₂O was added. The mixture was acidified with HCl 3N and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 11 g (54%) of (±)-1,1-dimethylethyl 2-[(4-chlorophenyl)[2,6-dichloro4(4,5 dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]methyl]-4-phenyl-5-thiazolcarboxylate (comp. 298).

EXAMPLE B14

[0225] A mixture of 2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneethanethionate (0.0197 mol) and 1-bromo-2,2diethoxyethane (0.0256 mol) in HCl 3N (10 ml) and ethanol (145 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 5 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in CH₂Cl₂, washed with K₂CO₃ 10% and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/NH₄OH 85/15/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off, dried and recrystallized from 2-propanone and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.32 g (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolylmethyl]-phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 39).

EXAMPLE B15

[0226] a) A mixture of intermediate (52) (0.0076 mol) in EtOAc (45 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 18 hours, then poured out into H₂O and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, washed with K₂CO₃ 10% and with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.9 g (25%) of (±)-2-[4-[2-benzoxazolyl(4-chloro-phenyl)methyl]-3-chlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 131).

[0227] b) (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2-benzoxazolyl)ethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione was prepared using the same procedure as in example B15a but by using methanesulfonic acid instead of acetic acid (compound 132).

EXAMPLE B16

[0228] A mixture of compound (33) (0.0231 mol) in methanol (100 ml) and sulfonic acid (2 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 days, then cooled, poured out on ice, neutralized and extracted with CH₂C₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1 to 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 4 g (38%) of (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-methoxy(2-thiazolyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 37).

EXAMPLE B17

[0229] a) Compound (33) (0.00425 mol) was dissolved in thionyl chloride (20 ml) at 10° C., and the mixture was stirred at RT for 4 hours. The solvent was evaporated, yielding (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[chloro(4-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolylmethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 36).

[0230] b) A solution of compound (36) (0.00425 mol) in THF (20 ml) was added dropwise at 5° C. to NH₄OH (20 ml) and the mixture was stirred at RT for 2 hours, then poured out on ice, neutralized with HCl 6N and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was repurified by column chromatography over Kromasil C18 (eluent: CH₃OH/H₂O/HOAc 70/30/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in H₂O and NH₄OH (pH=8) was added. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with H₂O and diethyl ether, and dried, yielding 0.3 g (±)-2-[3-chloro-4-[amino-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolylmethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (compound 35).

EXAMPLE B.18

[0231] A mixture of 2-[3,5dichloro-4[(4chlorophenyl)hydroxymethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.005 mol) and 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thione (0.006 mol) in methanesulfonic acid (20 ml) was stirred for 18 hours at RT. The reaction mixture was poured out into water/ice (150 ml), and the resulting precipitate was filtered off, stirred in water, treated with NaHCO₃ and this mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97.5/2.5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off and dried, yielding 1 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4- [(4-chlorophenyl)[(5-phenyl-1,3,4oxadiazol-2-yl)thio]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 406).

EXAMPLE B.19

[0232] a) A solution of 2,6-dichloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)benzeneacetyl chloride (0.188 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (900 ml) was stirred at RT. NaBH₄ (36.25 g) was added portionwise over 2.5 hours. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours at RT. The reaction mixture was cooled and acidified till pH 6 with 1 N HCl. The precipitated salts were removed by filtration. The filtrate was washed with water, and the precipitate was filtered off, stirred in DIPE, filtered off and dried, yielding 22.5 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 420). The biphasic filtrate was separated into its layers. The organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98.5/1.5 and 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, washed, and dried, yielding 24 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 420).

[0233] b) A solution of compound 420 (0.01 mol) and N-ethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)-2-propanamine (0.02 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (80 ml) was stirred at 5-10° C. under N₂ atmosphere. A solution of methanesulfonyl chloride (0.02 mol) in 1,4-dioxane(10 ml) was added dropwise at 5-10° C. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at RT. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in CH₂C₂, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 4.9 g of (±)-2-[2,6-dichloro4(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]-2-(4chlorophenyl)ethanol methanesulfonate (ester) (comp. 435).

[0234] c) A mixture of compound 435 (0.001 mol), 2-pyridinethiol (0.0012 mol) and NaHCO₃ (0.0012 mol) in DMF (30 ml) was stirred at RT under N₂ flow, then heated to 60° C. and stirred for 48 hours. 2-pyridinethiol (0.0012 mol) and NaHCO₃ (0.0012 mol) were added again. The mixture was stirred for 1 day. 2-pyridinethiol (0.006 mol) was added again and the mixture was stirred and refluxed for 1 day. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and extracted with water. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC (eluent: NH₄OAc 0.5% in H₂O/CH₃OH/CH₃CN 67.5/7.5/25 to 0/50/50 after 10 minutes to 0/0/100 after 10 minutes). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off, washed and dried, yielding 0.05 g (10%) of (±)-2-[3,5-di-chloro[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(2-pyridinylthio)ethyl]phenyl-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 422).

EXAMPLE B.20

[0235] A mixture of intermediate 75 (0.0159 mol) in dimethylsulfoxide (170 ml) and H₂O (20 ml) was stirred at 160° C. for 3 hours. The mixture was cooled and poured out on ice. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with H₂O and taken up in EtOAc. The organic solution was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99.5/0.5 to 96/4). The desired fraction was collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2015 g of (±)-2-[3-chloro4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 419; mp. 90° C.).

EXAMPLE B.21

[0236] A mixture of (±)-2-[4-[3-bromo-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxopropyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.0025 mol) and benzenecarbothioamide (0.0025 mol) in ethanol (25 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours, then stirred overnight at RT. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified twice by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (1) 97/3 and (2) 98/2 v/v). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was repurified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in hexane, filtered off, then dried, yielding 0.3 g (22%) of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-phenyl-4-thiazolyl)methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 363).

EXAMPLE B.22

[0237] a) Compound 298 (0.0137 mol) was added at 10° C. under N₂ flow to trifluoroacetic acid (120 ml). The mixture was allowed to warm to RT and stirred for 1 hour. H₂O was added. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with H₂O and taken up in CH₂Cl₂ and a small amount of CH₃OH. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from CH₃CN. The precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/HOAc 97/3/0.1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. This fraction was crystallized from CH₃CN. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.34 g (67%) of (±)-2-[(4-chlorophenyl)[2,6-dichloro4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]-methyl]4-phenyl-5-thiazolcarboxylic acid (Comp. 299; mp 206° C.).

[0238] b) 1,1′-Carbonylbis-1H-imidazole (0.0081 mol) was added to a suspension of compound 299 (0.00324 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (25 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 2 hours. Dimethylamine (0.00324 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred at RT for 48 hours. H₂O was added. The mixture was acidified with HCl 3N and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98.5/1.5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 1.04 g (52%) of (±)-N,N-dimethyl-2-[(4-chlorophenyl)[2,6-dichloro-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]methyl]-4-phenylthiazol-5-carboxamide (Comp. 303; mp 150° C.).

EXAMPLE B.23

[0239] a) A solution of compound 350 (0.014 mol) in 2,6-dimethylpyridine (1.63 ml) and THF (80 ml) was stirred and cooled to −78 ° C. Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (0.014 mol) was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred for 7 hours at −78 ° C., yielding (±)-2-[[(4-chlorophenyl)[2,6-dichloro-4-(4,5-dihycro-3,5dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]methyl]thio]4-pyrimidinol trifluoromethanesulfonate (ester) (comp. 356).

[0240] b) A mixture of compound 356 (0.0047 mol) in THF (35 ml) was stirred at RT. 2-Aminoethanol (0.0235 mol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at 50° C., then for 16 hours at RT. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1, 98/2 and 93/7). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was repurified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH from 100/0 over 30 minutes to 92/8). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in DIPE, filtered off, washed and dried, yielding 0.3 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[[4-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino3-2-pyrimidinyl]-thio]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 357).

EXAMPLE B.24

[0241] a) LiCl (0.035 mol) was added portionwise at 80° C. to a mixture of compound 285 (0.007 mol) and KBH₄ (0.035 mol) in THF (45 ml). The mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 4 hours. KBH₄ (0.035 mol) and then LiCl (0.035 mol) were added. The mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 4 hours, at RT overnight, then poured out into ice water, acidified with HCl 3N and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂C₂/CH₃OH 97/3; 20-45 μm). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2.1 g (51%) of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[4-(2-fluorophenyl)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-thiazolyl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 323).

[0242] b) Thionylchloride (0.0113 mol) was added at 10° C. to a mixture of compound 323 (0.0094 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (30 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 2.5 hours, washed with H₂O and with K₂CO₃ 10%, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2 g of (±)-2-[4-[[5-(chloromethyl)(2-fluorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl](4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 324).

[0243] c) A mixture of compound 324 (0.0034 mol), dimethylamine (0.0068 mol) and K₂CO₃ (0.0102 mol) in CH₃CN (100 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours and then cooled. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in CH₂Cl₂. The organic solution was washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/H₂O 97/3/0.4). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from diethyl ether and CH₃CN. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.84 g of (±)-2-[4-[(4chlorophenyl)[5-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl]methyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 325; mp 250° C.).

EXAMPLE B.25

[0244] A mixture of compound 229 (0.0041 mol) and triethylamine (0.0082 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (45 ml) was stirred at RT for 1 hour. A solution of acetyl chloride (0.0041 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (5 ml) was added at 10° C. The mixture was stirred at RT for 12 hours, then poured out into H₂O and decanted. The organic layer was washed with HCl 3N and with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂C₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from CH₃CN and DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.52 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[4(4piperidinyl)-2-thiazolyl]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5-(2H,4H)-dione monohydrochloride (comp. 230; mp 212° C.).

EXAMPLE B.26

[0245] A mixture of compound 212 (0.00646 mol) in NH₃/CH₃OH 7N (100 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours and then cooled. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in EtOAc and a small amount of CH₃OH. The organic layer was separated, washed with HCl 3N, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from 2-propanone and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.85 g of (±)-N-[2-[5-[(4-chlorophenyl)[2,6-dichloro4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]phenyl]-2-hydroxyacetamide (comp. 213; mp 235° C.).

EXAMPLE B.27

[0246] A mixture of compound 352 (0.005 mol) in HBr (75 ml; 48%) was stirred at RT. The mixture was warmed to 140° C. on an oil bath and stirred for 30 minutes. The mixture was cooled. The solvent was evaporated. H₂O was added. The mixture was neutralized with NaOH 50% and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The product was filtered off and stirred in CH₃OH, in CH₃CN and then in CH₂Cl₂, and dried. This fraction was stirred in H₂O (20 ml), and CH₃COOH (±1 equiv) was addded. The product was filtered off, washed with H₂O and dried, yielding 1.3 g of (±)-2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)[[4-(1-piperazinyl)-2-pyrimidinyl]thio]methyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione monohydrate (comp. 360).

EXAMPLE B.28

[0247] a) A mixture of compound 192 (0.014 mol) in THF (100 ml) and methanol (100 ml) was hydrogenated at 50° C. with platina on activated charcoal (2 g; 10%) as a catalyst in the presence of a thiophene solution (2 ml). After uptake of H₂, the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. Toluene was added and azeotroped on the rotary evaporator, yielding 6.2 g of (±)-2-[4-[[5-(3-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl](4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5 (2H,4H)-dione (comp. 193).

[0248] b) Compound 193 (0.012 mol) was dissolved in acetic acid (40 ml) and HCl (3.6 ml) at about 5° C. A solution of NaNO₂ (0.0126 mol) in H₂O (10 ml) was added dropwise at 5° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at 5° C. NaN₃ (0.0126 mol) was added portionwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, then poured out onto ice. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with water, then dissolved in CH₂Cl₂. The organic solution was dried, filtered, and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in boiling ethanol, filtered off and washed with ethanol/DIPE, then dried, yielding 2.1 g of (±)-2-[4-[[5-(3-azidophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl](4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 194).

EXAMPLE B.29

[0249] a) A mixture of compound 328 (0.00271 mol) in HBr (20 ml; 33% in HOAc) and HBr (20 ml; 48% in H₂O) was stirred and refluxed overnight, then cooled, poured out into ice water, neutralized with a concentrated NaOH solution and centrifuged. The residue was washed with H₂O and dried. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in CH₃OH and CH₂Cl₂. The organic solution was washed with a solution at pH 4 and a solution at pH 7, then dried. Activated charcoal was added. The mixture was filtered over celite. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was crystallized from CH₃CN and diethyl ether. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.27 g of (±)-2-[4-[[5-(aminomethyl)-4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl](4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 329; mp 170° C.).

[0250] b) A solution of compound 329 (0.0035 mol) and isothiocyanatobenzene (0.0042 mol) in THF (25 ml) was stirred at RT for 90 minutes. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂. The organic solution was washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up in DIPE. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.64 g (±)-N-[[2-[(4-chlorophenyl)[2,6-dichloro-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl]methyl]4-phenyl-5-thiazolyl]methyl]-N′-phenyl-thiourea (comp. 331; mp 159° C.).

EXAMPLE B.30

[0251] a) TiCl₁₋₃ (0.034 mol; 15% aqueous solution) was added dropwise at RT to a mixture of compound 216 (0.0034 mol) in THF (60 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 5 hours, poured out into H₂O and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.9 g of (±)-2-[4-[[5-(3-amino-2-methylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl](4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3,5-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (comp. 217).

[0252] b) A mixture of (acetyloxy)acetyl chloride (0.0121 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (15 ml) was added at 10° C. under N₂ flow to a mixture of compound 217 (0.011 mol) and N-ethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)-2-propanamine (0.0165 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (60 ml). The mixture was stirred at RT for 12 hours, poured out into H₂O, acidified with HCl 3N and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. Part of the residue (0.9 g) was crystallized from diethyl ether and CH₃CN. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.65 g of (±)-2-(acetyloxy)-N-[3-[5-[(4-chlorophenyl)[2,6-dichloro-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)yl)phenyl]methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]-2-methylphenyl]acetamide. (comp. 223; mp 206° C.).

[0253] Tables 1 to 8 list compounds of the present invention as prepared according to one of the above examples. These all are racemic mixtures unless otherwise mentioned. TABLE 1

Melting- Co. Ex. point No. No. R^(5a) R^(5b) R^(11a) R^(11b) ° C. 134 B5a Cl H phenyl CH3 180° C. 135 B5a Cl Cl 2-Cl-phenyl CH3 170° C. 136 B5a Cl Cl phenyl CH₃ 175° C. 137 B5a Cl Cl CH₃ 2-Cl-phenyl 120° C. 138 B5a Cl Cl CH₃ phenyl 120° C. 139 B5a Cl H 2-Cl-phenyl CH₃ >260° C. 140 B5a Cl H phenyl phenyl 186-188° C. 141 B5a Cl H H phenyl 168° C. 142 B5a Cl Cl H phenyl 143 B5a Cl H 3-F-phenyl CH₃ 146° C. 144 B5a H Cl 2-Cl-phenyl phenyl 140° C. 145 B5a Cl Cl 2-Cl-phenyl phenyl 160° C. 146 B5a H H phenyl CH₃ 230° C. 147 B5a Cl Cl 2-Cl-phenyl 2-Cl-phenyl 158° C. 148 B5a Cl H 3-F-phenyl H 155° C. 149 B5a Cl H 4-Cl-phenyl CH₃ 145° C. 150 B5a Cl H phenyl 2-Cl-phenyl 220° C. 151 B5a Cl H 2-Cl-phenyl 2-Cl-phenyl 150° C. 152 B5a Cl Cl 2-F-phenyl CH₃ 185° C. 153 B5a H OCH₃ phenyl CH₃ 163° C. 154 B5a Cl H CH₃ 2-Cl-phenyl 190° C.

[0254] TABLE 2

salt form/ Co. Ex. stereochemistry/ No. No. R¹ R^(4a) R^(5a) R^(11a) melting point 155 B8a CH₃ CF₃ H phenyl 126° C. 156 B8a H H Cl 2-F-phenyl 169° C. 157 B8a H H Cl 3-Cl-phenyl 188° C. 158 B8a H H Cl 4-pyridinyl H₂O (1:1)/ 170° C. 159 B8a H H Cl cyclohexyl 164° C. 160 B8a H H Cl 3-F-phenyl 156° C. 161 B8a H H Cl 2-furanyl 170° C. 162 B8a H H Cl methyl 120° C. 163 B8a H H Cl 2-Cl-phenyl H₂O (1:1)/ 160° C. 164 B8a H H Cl propyl 135° C. 165 B8a H CF₃ Cl phenyl 212° C. 166 B8a H H Cl 2-thienyl 180° C. 167 B8a H H Cl 4-Cl-phenyl 230° C. 168 B8a H H Cl 4-Br-phenyl 169 B8a H H Cl 2-pyridinyl 182° C. 170 B8a H H Cl 3-methoxyphenyl 208° C. 171 B8a H H Cl 2-methoxyphenyl 212° C. 172 B8a H H Cl phenylethyl 148° C. 173 B8a H H Cl phenyl-CH₂— 190° C. 174 B8a H H Cl 2-(methoxy)phenyl 164° C. 175 B8a H H Cl (2-Cl-phenyl)-O—CH₂— 135° C. 176 B8a H H Cl C₂H₅—O—CO—CH₂— 177° C. 177 B8a H H Cl 2-CH₃-phenyl >260° C. 178 B8a H H Cl 3-CH₃-phenyl 188° C. 179 B8a H H Cl NC—CH₂— 222° C. 180 B8a H H Cl 4-[N(CH₃)₂]-phenyl 224° C. 181 B8a H H Cl C₂H₅—O—(CH₂)₂— 130° C. 182 B8a H H Cl 3-[N(CH₃)₂]-phenyl 183 B2a H H Cl 4-nitrophenyl 184 B28 H H Cl 4-aminophenyl 185 B28b H H Cl 4-(—N═N⁺═N⁻)-phenyl 186 B8a H H Cl C₂H₅—O—CO— 137° C. 187 B8a H H Cl phenyl-O—(CH₂)₂— 215° C. 188 B8a H H Cl 2-CH₃-phenyl 150° C. 189 B8b H H Cl phenyl (A) 190 B8b H H Cl phenyl (B) 191 B8a H H Cl 1-(C₂H₅—O—CO)-4-piperidinyl 230° C. 192 B8a H H Cl 3-nitrophenyl 193 B28a H H Cl 3-aminophenyl 194 B28b H H Cl 3-(—N═N⁺═N⁻)-phenyl 195 B8a H H Cl 1-CH₃-4-piperidinyl 196 B8a H H Cl 1-CH₃-3-piperidinyl 150° C. 197 B8a H H Cl Cl—CH₂— 198 B24c H H Cl (CH₃)₂—N—CH₂— 188° C. 199 B8a H H Cl 4-(4-CH₃-1-piperazinyl)phenyl 150° C. 200 B8a H H Cl 3-OH-phenyl 159° C. 201 B8a H H Cl 3-pyridinyl 190° C. 202 B8a H H Cl 2-hydroxyphenyl 180° C. 203 B8a H H Cl 3-CH₃-2-thienyl 161° C. 204 B8a H H Cl 3-(NH—SO₂)-phenyl H₂O (1:1)/ 196° C. 205 B8a H H Cl 3-(CH₃—SO₂)-phenyl 185° C. 206 B8a CH₃ H Cl phenyl 180° C. 207 B8a H H Cl 3-CH₃-2-furanyl 188° C. 208 B30b H H Cl 3-(CH₃—SO₂—NH)-phenyl >250° C. 209 B8a H H Cl 2-(CH₃—SO₂) 230° C. 210 B8a H H Cl 2-nitrophenyl 180° C. 211 B30a H H Cl 2-aminophenyl 212 B30b H H Cl 2-(CH₃—CO—O—CH₂—CO—NH)-phenyl 213 B26 H H Cl 2-(HO—CH₂—CO—NH)-phenyl 235° C. 214 B30b H H Cl 3-(CH₃—CO—O—CH₂—CO—NH)-phenyl >250° C. 216 B8a H H Cl 2-CH₃-3-nitrophenyl 217 B30a H H Cl 3-amino-2-methylphenyl 218 B30b H H Cl 2-CH₃-3-(NH₂—SO₂—NH)-phenyl 180° C. 219 B30b H H Cl 3-(C₂H₅—O—CO—CO—NH)-phenyl H₂O (1:1)/ 208° C. 220 B29b H H Cl

180° C. 221 B30b H H Cl 3-(NH₂—SO₂—NH)-phenyl H₂O (1:1)/ 220° C. 222 B8a H H Cl 2-CH₃-3-pyridinyl 160° C. 223 B30b H H Cl 2-CH₃-3-(CH₃—CO—O—CH₂—CO—NH)- 206° C. phenyl

[0255] TABLE 3

Salt from Co. Ex. stereochem/ No. No. R¹ R^(4a) R^(5a) R^(5b) R^(11a) R^(11b) mp. 1 B16 CH₃O H Cl H phenyl H 126° C. 2 B14 H H Cl H H H 3 B14 CH₃ H Cl H H H 4 B13a H H Cl H phenyl H 5 B13a H H Cl H 4-pyridinyl H HBr (1:1)/ H₂O (1:1) 6 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl 7 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃ 8 B13a CH₃ H Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 110° C. 9 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 4-Cl-phenyl H 10 B13a H H Cl H CH₃ H 11 B13a H H Cl H phenyl phenyl 12 B13a CH₃ H Cl H phenyl H 13 B13a H H Cl H 4-Cl-phenyl H 14 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl CH₃ H 15 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 4-pyridinyl H 16 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl CH₃ CH₃ 17 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 4-[N(C₂H₅)]- H phenyl 18 B13a CH₃ H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl 19 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-Cl-phenyl H 148° C. 20 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-CF₃-phenyl H 155° C. 21 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-F-phenyl H 167° C. 22 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-HC₃-phenyl H 162° C. 23 B13a CH₃ CF₃ Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 130° C. 24 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-OCH₃-phenyl H 130° C. 25 B13a H H 2-Cl 2-Br-5- H 130° C. OCH₃-phenyl 26 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 4-OH-phenyl H 255° C. 27 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl C₂H₅O—CO— H 220° C. 28 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3,4-diCl-phenyl H 170° C. 29 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl C₂H₅O—CO— 144° C. 30 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 4-phenyl- H 205° C. phenyl 31 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-thienyl H 164° C. 32 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-Cl-phenyl H 110° C. 33 B4a OH H Cl H H H 34 B4a OH H Cl H phenyl H 141° C. 35 B17b NH₂ H Cl H H H 36 N17b Cl H Cl H H H 37 B16 CH₃O H Cl H H H 38 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 39 B14 H H Cl 2-Cl H H 224 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl ethyl 260° C. 225 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl-CH₂— H 135° C. 226 B13a H CF₃ Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 175° C. 227 B13a CH₃ Cl Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 120° C. 228 B13a CH₃ Cl Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl 130° C. 229 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 4-piperidinyl H HCl (1:1)/ 200-210° C. 230 B25 H H Cl 2-Cl

H 212° C. 231 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl Cl—CH₂— H 232 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl

H 175° C. 233 B13a CH₃ Cl Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃ 130° C. 234 B13a CH₃ CF₃ Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃ 110° C. 235 B13a CH₃ CF₃ Cl 3-CH₃ phenyl H 188° C. 236 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-furanyl H 126° C. 237 B13a CH₃ CF₃ Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl 120° C. 238 B13a CH₃ CF₃ Cl 3-CH₃ phenyl CH₃ 130° C. 239 B13a CH₃ CF₃ Cl H phenyl H 126° C. 240 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl (CH₃)₂N—CH₂— H 226° C. 241 B13b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂CH— 250° C. 242 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-F-phenyl H 85° C. 243 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-CH₃-phenyl H 92° C. 244 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-Br-phenyl H 90° C. 245 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl propyl 246° C. 246 B13a H CF₃ Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃ 180° C. 247 B13a CH₃ CH₃ Cl H phenyl H 150° C. 248 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl CH₃ phenyl 146° C. 249 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl-CH₂— 176° C. 250 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-Br-phenyl H 116° C. 251 B13a CH₃ Cl Cl 2-Cl phenyl ethyl 132° C. 252 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2,3-diCl-phenyl H 98° C. 253 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—CH₂— 228° C. 254 B13a H CF₃ Cl 2-Cl 2-Cl-phenyl H 104° C. 255 B13a CH₃ CF₃ H 2-OCH₃ phenyl H 89° C. 256 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl C₂H₅O—CO—CH₂— 170° C. 257 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2,5-diCl-phenyl H 130° C. 258 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-F-phenyl CH₃ 202° C. 259 B13a H H 2-Cl 2-F- CH₃ 178° C. phenyl 260 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-F-phenyl ethyl 255° C. 261 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-F-phenyl ethyl 152° C. 262 B13a H H Cl Cl 2-Cl-phenyl ethyl 180° C. 263 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-CH₃O-phenyl H 120° C. 264 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2,6-diCl-phenyl H 200° C. 265 B17a Cl H Cl H phenyl Cl 266 B3f (CH₃)₂N—(CH₂)₂—NH— H Cl H phenyl Cl 168° C. 267 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl H phenyl 175° C. 268 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2,6-diF-phenyl CH₃ 170° C. 269 B13a H CH₃ Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 126° C. 270 B13a H Cl CH₃ 2-CH₃ phenyl H 181° C. 271 B13a H Cl CH₃ 2-CH₃ phenyl CH₃ 140° C. 272 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-Cl-phenyl CH₃ 182° C. 273 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl-CO— 148° C. 274 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-Cl-phenyl C₂H₅O—CO— 232° C. 275 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—CO—CH₂— 216° C. 276 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

203° C. 277 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl C₂H₅O—CO—(CH₃)₂— 184° C. 278 B13c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃O—CH₂— 228° C. 279 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—(CH₂)₂— 229° C. 280 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-F-phenyl (CH₃)₂N—CH₂— 219° C. 281 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—CO—(CH₂)₂— 204° C. 282 B24a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl HO—CH₂— 142° C. 283 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

160° C. 284 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl cyclohexyl 250° C. 285 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-F-phenyl C₂H₅O—CO— 222° C. 286 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3,5-diF-phenyl H 95° C. 287 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-F-phenyl CH₃ 95° C. 288 B13a CH₃ F Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 100° C. 289 B13a H OCH₃ Cl 2-Cl phenyl H 158° C. 290 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2,5-diF-phenyl H 120° C. 291 B24b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl Cl—CH₂— 292 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

105° C. 293 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-Cl-phenyl C₂H₅O—CO—CH₂— 174° C. 294 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 4-Br-phenyl H 295 B13c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl C₂H₅—O—CH₂— 210° C. 296 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃—NH—CH₂— HCl (1:1); H₂O (1:3)/ 205° C. 297 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl-CH₂—N(CH₂)—CH₂— 210° C. 298 B13c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₃C—O—CO— 299 B22a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl HOOC— 206° C. 300 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl HOOC—CH₂— 186° C. 301 B13c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃—NH—CO—CH₂— 158° C. 302 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

186° C. 303 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—CO— 150° C. 304 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

170° C. 305 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

210° C. 306 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

156° C. 307 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃O—(CH₂)₂—NH—CO— 248° C. 308 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl Cl—(CH₂)₂— 309 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

trifluoro acetate (1:1) 310 B13c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl c.C₆H₁₁—O—CH₂— 200° C. 311 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—(CH₂)₂—N(CH₃)—CH₂— 170° C. 312 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—(CH₂)₂—NH—CO— H₂O (1:1)/ 160° C. 313 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

H₂O (1:1)/ 216° C. 314 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

HCl (1:1)/H₂O (1:1)/190° C. 315 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃O—CH(CH₃)— >260° C. 316 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃O—(CH₂)₂—NH—CH₂— 110° C. 317 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—(CH₂)₂—NH—CO—CH₂— 156° C. 318 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-F-phenyl H (A)/120° C. 319 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 3-F-phenyl H (B)/120° C. 320 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl CH₃O—(CH₂)₂—NH—CO—CH₂— 170-172° C. 321 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

210° C. 322 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

168° C. 323 B24a H H Cl 2-Cl 2-F-phenyl HO—CH₂— 324 B24b H H Cl 2-Cl 2-F-phenyl Cl—CH₂— 325 B24c H H Cl 2-CL 2-F-phenyl (CH₃)₂N—CH₂— 250° C. 326 B22b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

140° C. 327 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

170° C. 328 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl

329 B29a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl NH₂—CH₂— H₂O (1:1)/ 170° C. 330 B13a H H Br 2-Br phenyl CH₃ 228° C. 331 B29b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl-NH—C(═S)—NH—CH₂— 159° C. 332 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl-(CH₂)₂—N(CH₃)—CH₂— 187° C. 333 B29b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (4-Cl-phenyl)-NH—CO—NH—CH₂— 202° C. 334 B24c H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl c.C₆H₁₁—N(CH₃)—CH₂— 176° C. 335 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl (CH₃)₂N—(CH₂)₂—N(CH₃)—CO—CH₂— 132° C. 336 B30b H H Cl 2-Cl phenyl phenyl-CH₂—SO₂—NH—CH₂— 158° C. 337 B13a H H Cl 2-Cl 2,3-diF-phenyl H 110° C.

[0256] TABLE 4

Co. Ex. Salt form/ No. No. R^(4a) R^(5a) R^(11a) R^(11b) R^(11c) stereochemistry 338 B2a H H OH c.C₃H₅—CH₂— CH₃ 339 B2a H H H C₂H₅O—CO— OH 340 B2a H Cl H H H 341 B2a CF₃ Cl H H H 342 B2a CF₃ Cl phenyl H H 343 B2a H H H H NH₂ 344 B18 H Cl H H 4-morpholinyl CH₃SO₃H (1:1) H₂O (1:2) 345 B18 H Cl H H 4-CH₃-1-piperazinyl 346 B8b H Cl H H H (A); α₂₀ ^(D) = −346.46° (c = 6.35 mg/5 ml in CH₃OH) 347 B8b H Cl H H H (B); α₂₀ ^(D) = +326.15° (c = 6.73 mg/5 ml in CH₃OH) 348 B18 H Cl NH₂ H H 349 B23 H Cl H H 4-morpholinyl 350 B18 H Cl H H OH 351 B18 H Cl H H

352 B18 H Cl H H

353 B18 H Cl H H

354 B18 H Cl H H

HCl (1:1); H₂O (1:1) 355 B18 H Cl (CH₃)₂—N— H H 356 B23a H Cl H H CF₃—SO₂—O— 357 B23b H Cl H H HO—(CH₂)₂—NH— 358 B23b H Cl H H [HO—(CH₂)₂]₂N— 359 B18 H Cl

H H CH₃SO₃H (1:1) 360 B27 H Cl H H 1-piperazinyl H₂O (1:1) 361 B23 H Cl H H (HO—CH₂)₂CH—NH— 362 B18 H Cl H H

[0257] TABLE 5

Co. Ex. Salt form/ No. No. R^(5a) R^(11a) R^(11b) stereochemistry 363 B21 Cl phenyl H 364 B21 Cl 2-F-phenyl H 365 B21 Cl phenyl CH₃— 366 B21 Cl 4-pyridinyl H HCl (1:1); H₂O (1:1) 366a B8a Cl 4-pyridinyl H HCl (1:1); H₂O (1:1); (A) 366b B8a Cl 4-pyridinyl H HCl (1:1); H₂O (1:1); (B) 367 B21 Cl 2-Cl-phenyl H 368 B21 Cl 3-F-phenyl H 369 B21 H CH₃ phenyl 370 B21 Cl 3-F-phenyl CH₃— 371 B21 Cl 3-Cl-phenyl H 372 B21 Cl 3-CH₃-phenyl H 373 B21 H phenyl phenyl 374 B21 Cl 2-CH₃-phenyl H 375 B21 Cl 3-pyridinyl H

[0258] TABLE 6

salt form/ Co. Ex. stereochemistry No. No. X R² R^(4a) R^(5a) melting point  52 B2a S 1H-benzimidazol-2-yl H H  53 B2a S 4-CH₃-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl H H  54 B2a S (CH₃)₂N—(CH₂)₂— H H  55 B2az S 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl H H  56 B2a S 5-CH₃-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl H H  57 B2a S 4-F-phenyl H H  58 B2a S 1-CH₃-2-imidazolyl H H  59 B2a S 4-aminophenyl H H  60 B2a S 4-OH-6-CH₃-2-pyrimidinyl H H  61 B2a S 4-OH-2-pyrimidinyl H H H₂O (1:1)  62 B2a S 5-CH₃-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl H H  63 B2a S 2-thiazolyl H H  64 B2a S 2-furanyl-CH₂— H H  65 B2a S 4-pyrimidinyl H H  66 B2a S 4,6-diCH₃-2-pyrimidinyl H H  67 B2a S 4-Cl-phenyl-CH₂— H H  68 B2a S 2,4-diamino-6-pyrimidinyl H H  69 B2a S 1H-purin-6-yl H H  70 B2a S 4,6-diamino-2-pyrimidinyl H H  71 B2a S 2-benzoxazolyl H H  72 B2a S 4-OH-6-propyl-2-pyrimidinyl H H  73 B2a S 2-pyridinyl, N-oxide H H  74 B2a S 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl H H  75 B2a S 4-HC₃-2-pyrimidinyl H H  76 B2a S C₂H₅—O—C(═O)—CH₂— H H  77 B2a S 2-benzothiazolyl H H  78 B2a S 4,5-dihydro-2-thiazolyl H H  79 B2a S 4-(4-OCH₃-phenyl)-2-pyrimidinyl H H  80 B2a S CH₃—O—C(═O)—(CH₂)₂— H H  81 B2a S thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-2-yl H H  82 B2a S 4-OH-6-(CH₃OCH₂)-2-pyrimidinyl H H  83 B2a S 2-amino-1H-purin-4-yl H H  84 B2a S 4-(2-thienyl)-2-pyrimidinyl H H  85 B2a S 6-CH₃-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl H H  86 B2a S 2-pyridinyl CF₃ H  87 B2a S 4-amino-6-OH-2-pyrimidinyl H H  88 B2a S 5-CF₃-2-pyridinyl H H  89 B2a S 5-CF₃-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl H H  90 B2a S cyclohexyl H H  91 B2a S 5-ethyl-4-oxo-2(3H)-pyrimidinyl H H  92 B1b S 2-pyrimidinyl H H  93 B2a S 2-pyridinyl H H  94 B2b S 1H-imidazol-2-yl H H  95 B2c S C₂H₅—O—C(═O)—CH(NH₂)— H H  96 B11 S 2,4-diOCH₂-6-pyrimidinyl H H  98 B1 O CH₃ H H 133 B1 O (CH₃)₂CH—CH₂ H H 376 B2az S thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-2-yl H Cl 377 B2a S 2-pyridinyl H Cl 377a B8a S 2-pyridinyl H Cl (A); α₂₀ ^(D) = +354.70° (c = 5.85 mg/5 ml in CH₃OH) 377b B8a S 2-pyridinyl H Cl (B); α₂₀ ^(D) = −356.73° (c = 6.91 mg/5 ml in CH₃OH) 378 B2a S 2-pyridinyl CF₃ Cl 379 B2a S 2-benzoxazolyl CF₃ Cl 380 B2a S 4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl H Cl 381 B2a S 4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 382 B2a S thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-2-yl CF₃ Cl 383 B2a S 2-benzoxazolyl H Cl 384 B2a S 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl 385 B2a S 2-benzothiazolyl CF₃ Cl 386 B2a S 4,5-dihydro-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 387 B2a S 4-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 388 B2a S 6-nitro-2-benzothiazolyl CF₃ Cl 389 B2a S 6-NH₂-2-benzothiazolyl CF₃ Cl 390 B2a S 4-(2-thienyl)-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 391 B2a S 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl CF₃ Cl 392 B2a S 5CH₃-4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 393 B2a S 4-NH₂-phenyl CF₃ Cl 394 B2a S 6-ethoxy-2-benzothiazolyl CF₃ Cl 395 B2a S pyrido[3,4-d]thiazol-2-yl CF₃ Cl 396 B2a S 1H-benzimidazol-2-yl CF₃ Cl 397 B2a S 4-(2,4-diF-phenyl)-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 398 B2a S 4-(CH₃—CO—NH)-phenyl CF₃ Cl 399 B2a S 4-(2-furanyl)-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 400 B2d S 1,3-dihydro-4-phenyl-2H-imidazole- CF₃ Cl 2-thion-5-yl 401 B2a S 2-pyrazinyl CF₃ Cl 402 B2a S 5-Cl-2-benzothiazolyl CF₃ Cl 403 B2a S pyrido[3,4-d]oxazol-2-yl CF₃ Cl 404 B2a S 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl CF₃ Cl 405 B2a S 5-CH₃-4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 406 B18 S 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl H Cl 407 B2a S (2-pyrazinyl)-CH₂— H Cl 216° C. 408 B18 S 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl H Cl 409 B18 S 4-pyrimidinyl H Cl

[0259] TABLE 7

Co. Ex. No. No. R² R^(4a) R^(5a) salt form 40 B3e 5-CH₃-3-isoxazol H H 41 B3c CH₃—O—(CH₂)₂— H H 42 B3c 4-CH₃-6-OCH₃-2-pyrimidinyl H H 43 B3c 2-furanylethyl H H HCl (1:1) 44 B3c 2-thiazolyl H H 46 B3a cyclohexyl H H 47 B10b benzoyl H H 48 B3f 1-CH₃-4-piperidinyl H H 49 B3e 2-pyrimidinyl H H 50 B3d 1H-imidazol-2-yl H H 51 B3c C₂H₄OH H H 410 B10b thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-2-yl H H 411 B3g 4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl CF₃ Cl 412 B3c 5-CH₃-4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl H H 413 B3g 2-pyrimidinyl H Cl

[0260] TABLE 8

Co. Ex. Salt form No. No. R¹ R² R^(4a) R^(5a) R^(5b) melting point 45 B3a H N(CH₃)₂ H Cl H 97 B3c H 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl H Cl H 99 B3c H 1,2,4-triazol-4-yl H Cl H 100 B3c H 1H-imidazolyl-1-yl H Cl H 101 B8a H 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl H Cl H 102 B8a H 5-CH₃-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl H Cl H 103 B8a H 5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl H Cl H 104 B8a CH₃ 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl H Cl H 105 B8a H 5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl H Cl Cl 106 B6 CH₃ 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl H Cl H 107 B7 H 5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl H Cl H 108 B5a H 2-CH₃-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl H Cl H 109 B5a H 1-CH₃-2-imidazolyl H Cl Cl 164° C. 110 B4a OH 2-CH₃-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl H Cl H H₂O (1:1) 111 B4a OH 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl H 112 B5a H 4-pyridinyl H Cl H 113 B5a H 4-pyridinyl H Cl Cl 114 B5a H 2-pyridinyl H Cl H 130° C. 115 B5a H 2-pyridinyl H Cl Cl 205° C. 116 B5a H 3-pyridinyl H Cl Cl 166° C. 117 B4a OH 3-pyridinyl H Cl H 118 B3a H 4-CH₃-1-piperazinyl H Cl H 119 B3b H 4-OH-1-piperidinyl H Cl H 120 B4a OH 1-CH₃-2-imidazolyl H Cl H H₂O (1:1) 121 B4b OH 3-CH₃-4-imidazolyl H Cl H H₂O (1:1) 122 B4c OH CN—CH₂— H Cl Cl 123 B5a H 1-CH₃-2-imidazolyl H Cl H 124 B5b H 3-pyridinyl H Cl H 125 B6 H 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxazdiazol-5-yl H Cl H 126 B7 H 5-CH₃-1,2,4-oxadiazol-2-yl H Cl H 127 B8a H 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl H Cl Cl 128 B9 H 5-SH-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl H Cl H 129 B9 H 5-(phenyl-NH)-1,3,4-thiadiazol- H Cl H 2-yl 130 B12 H 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl H 131 B15a H 2-benzothiazolyl H CL H 132 B15b CH₃ 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl H 414 B12 H 5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiazol-2-yl H H Cl 128° C. 415 B17a Cl 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl H 416 B17b NH₂ 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl H 140° C. 417 B4c HO CN—CH₂— CF₃ Cl Cl 418 B16 CH₃O 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl H 100° C. 419 B20 H (4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl)-CH₂— H H Cl 90° C. 420 B19a H HO—CH₂— H Cl Cl 421 B5a H 2-benzothiazolyl H Cl Cl 208° C. 422 B19c H (2-pyrimidinyl)thio-CH₂— H H Cl 423 B19a H HO—CH₂— CF₃ Cl Cl 424 B19b H H₃C—SO₂—O—CH₂— CF₃ Cl Cl 425 B5a H 1-CH₃-4-phenyl-2-imidazolyl H Cl Cl >250° C. 426 B8a H 5-CH₃-4-phenyl-2-oxazolyl H Cl Cl 150° C. 427 B12 H 5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl H Cl Cl 140° C. 428 B5a H 4-CH₃-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl H Cl Cl H₂O (1:1)/ 245° C. 429 B6b H 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl H Cl Cl 128° C. 430 B5a H 1-CH₃-2-phenyl-5-imidazolyl H Cl Cl >260° C. 431 B8a H 5-CH₃-4-(4-F-phenyl)-2-oxazolyl H Cl Cl 220° C. 432 B21 H 5-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-6-yl H H Cl 433 B21 H 5,6-dihydro-2-phenylimidazo- H H Cl [2,1-b]thiazol-3-yl 434 B5a H 2,4-diphenyl-5-oxazolyl H Cl Cl 195° C. 435 B19b H H₃C—SO₂—O—CH₂— H Cl Cl

[0261] C. Pharmacological example

EXAMPLE C.1 In Vitro Inhibition of IL-5 Production in Human Blood

[0262] Human whole blood stimulation

[0263] Peripheral blood from healthy male donors was drawn into heparinized syringes (12.5 U heparin/ml). Blood samples were three-fold diluted in RMPI 1640 medium (Life Technologies, Belgium) supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin, and 300 μl fractions were distributed in 24-well multidisc plates. Blood samples were preincubated (60 minutes at 37° C.) in a humidified 6% CO₂-atmosphere with 100 μl of drug solvent (final concentration 0.02% dimethylsulfoxide in RPMI 1640) or with 100 μl of an appropriate dose of test compound before being stimulated by the addition of 100 μl of phytohemagglutinin HA17 (Murex, UK) at a final concentration of 2 μg/ml. After 48 hours, cell-free supernatant fluids were collected by centrifugation and stored at −70° C. until tested for the presence of IL-5.

[0264] IL5-measurements

[0265] IL-5 measurements were conducted as described in Van Wauwe et al. (1996, Inflamm Res, 45, 357-363) on page 358 using ELISA.

[0266] Table 9 lists the percentage inhibition of IL-5 production (column “% inh”) at a test dose of 1×10⁻⁶ M, or in case the percentage inhibition is marked with an “*” 1×10⁻⁵ the compounds of the present invention. TABLE 9 Comp % Comp % Comp % No inh. No inh. No inh.  1 77 148 79 293 59  2  55* 149 89 294 85  3 46 150 48 295 90  4 83 151 17 296 92  5 77 152 87 297 90  6 91 153 72 299 38  7 95 154 42 300 27  8 93 155 80 301 33  9 85 156 91 302 87  10 64 157 85 303 85  11 91 158 92 304 35  12 77 159 87 305 51  13 61 160 91 306 92  14 83 161 91 307 78  15 86 162 63 309 82  16 89 163 90 310 79  17 81 164 84 311 64  18 88 165 80 312 57  19 83 166 87 313 86  20 70 167 82 314 81  21 91 168 80 315 93  22 93 169 81 316 85  23 83 170 62 317 67  24 74 171 59 318 81  25 88 172 17 319 84  26 85 173 44 320 94  27 64 174 83 321 92  28 73 175 58 322 96  29 95 176  3 325 95  30 57 177 69 326 89  31 93 178 78 327 84  32 90 179 21 329 88  34 58 180 54 330 94  35 56 181 55 331 95  37 61 182 75 332 86  38 92 184 83 333 61  39 68 185 81 334 75  40 31 186  8 335 52  41 11 187 25 336 88  42 57 188 95 337 96  43 37 189 82 338 −15   44 40 190 83 339 35  46 64 191 19 340 88  47 33 194 83 341 96  48 29 195  7 342 93  49 61 196 35 343 66  50  20* 198 46 344 82  51 10 199 43 345 88  52  57* 200 43 346 86  53  53* 201 87 347  8  54 14 203 82 348 83  55 26 204 36 349 87  56 41 205 80 351 62  57  50 206 82 352 85  58  5 207 94 353 91  59 76 208 48 354 70  60  24* 209 77 355 83  61 14 210 79 357 69  62 30 211 83 358 63  63 68 213 32 359 88  64 64 215 54 360 84  65 50 218  4 361 28  66 64 219  8 363 91  67 69 220 25 364 95  68 60 221 −2 365 88  70 51 224 95 366 93  71 84 225 80 367 74  73 21 226 93 368 88  74 69 227 78 369 66  75 72 228 81 370 76  76  2 230 79 371 88  77 65 232 47 372 86  78 70 233 84 373 40  79 74 234 83 374 94  81 76 235 79 375 91  82 19 236 92 376 92  84 73 237 82 377 87  85 38 238 74 378 91  86 84 239 72 379 95  87  9 240 54 380 95  88 26 241 95 381 95  89 19 242 98 382 95  90 60 243 97 383 78  93 86 244 95 384 95  94 18 245 98 385 95  95 17 246 94 386 97  96 62 247 80 387 93  97 26 248 91 388 90 101 66 249 80 389 91 102 14 250 84 390 89 103 63 251 90 391 97 104 60 252 80 392 87 105 88 253 96 393 93 106 77 254 86 394 93 107 81 255 67 395 94 109 35 256 94 396 28 110  6 257 82 397 83 111 61 258 98 398 96 112 62 259 95 399 93 113 76 260 98 400 76 114 40 261 93 401 92 115 71 262 93 402 90 116 74 263 92 403 97 117 34 264 79 404 92 118 34 266 46 405 80 119  72* 267 81 406 84 120 10 268 83 407 71 123 13 269 90 408 88 124 42 270 86 409 88 125 52 271 88 410 15 126 40 272 87 411 94 127 94 273 77 412 16 130 70 274 89 413 59 131 76 275 94 414 30 132 55 276 91 416 79 133 50 277 66 418 47 134 95 278 97 419  5 135 88 279 92 420 33 136 93 280 96 421 86 137 64 281 91 422 87 138 81 282 93 425 70 139 60 283 93 426 92 140 45 284 91 427 72 141 64 285 89 428 66 142 80 286 86 429 78 143 81 287 94 430 89 144 40 288 90 431 67 145 37 289 96 432 82 146 83 290 92 433 53 147 50 292 94 434 72

[0267] D. Composition examples

[0268] The following formulations exemplify typical pharmaceutical compositions suitable for systemic or topical administration to animal and human subjects in accordance with the present invention.

[0269] “Active ingredient” (A.I.) as used throughout these examples relates to a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt thereof.

EXAMPLE D.1 Film-coated Tablets

[0270] Preparation of tablet core

[0271] A mixture of A.I. (100 g), lactose (570 g) and starch (200 g) was mixed well and thereafter humidified with a solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (5 g) and polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (10 g) in about 200 ml of water. The wet powder mixture was sieved, dried and sieved again. Then there was added microcrystalline cellulose (100 g) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (15 g). The whole was mixed well and compressed into tablets, giving 10,000 tablets, each comprising 10 mg of the active ingredient.

[0272] Coating

[0273] To a solution of methyl cellulose (10 g) in denaturated ethanol (75 ml) there was added a solution of ethyl cellulose (5 g) in CH₂C₄ (150 ml). Then there were added CH₂Cl₂(75 ml) and 1,2,3-propanetriol (2.5 ml). Polyethylene glycol (10 g) was molten and dissolved in dichloromethane (75 ml). The latter solution was added to the former and then there were added magnesium octadecanoate (2.5 g), polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (5 g) and concentrated color suspension (30 ml) and the whole was homogenated. The tablet cores were coated with the thus obtained mixture in a coating apparatus.

EXAMPLE D.2 2% Topical Cream

[0274] To a solution of hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrine (200 mg) in purified water is added A.I. (20 mg) while stirring. Hydrochloric acid is added until complete dissolution and next sodium hydroxide is added until pH 6.0. While stirring, glycerol (50 mg) and polysorbate 60 (35 mg) are added and the mixture is heated to 70° C. The resulting mixture is added to a mixture of mineral oil (100 mg), stearyl alcohol (20 mg), cetyl alcohol (20 mg), glycerol monostearate (20 mg) and sorbate 60 (15 mg) having a temperature of 70° C. while mixing slowly. After cooling down to below 25° C., the rest of the purified water q.s. ad 1 g is added and the mixture is mixed to homogenous. 

1. A compound of formula

a N-oxide, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, wherein: p represents an integer being 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q represents an integer being 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; X represents O, S, NR³ or a direct bond; R¹ represents hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyl C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl or mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkylamino; R² represents aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆aryloxy, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR³, then R² may also represent aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl, arylcarbonyl or arylthiocarbonyl; R³ represents hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; each R⁴ independently represents C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het³, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸ or C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with Het³, R⁶ or NR⁷R⁸; each R⁵ independently represents C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het³, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸ or C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with Het³, R⁶ or NR⁷R⁸; each R⁶ independently represents C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, aminosulfonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminosulfonyl, mono- or di(benzyl)aminosulfonyl, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfinyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyl, piperazinylsulfonyl, aminopiperidinylsulfonyl, piperidinylaminosulfonyl, N—C₁₋₄alkyl-N-piperidinylaminosulfonyl; each R⁷ and each R⁸ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, arylaminocarbonyl, arylamiothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ and R⁶; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄ alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ and R⁶; each R¹¹ independently being selected from hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, nitro, halo, trihalomethyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, carboxyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, trihaloC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyloxy, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸, C(═O)NR⁷R⁸, aryl, aryloxy, arylcarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyloxy, phthalimide-2-yl, Het³ and C(═O)Het³; R¹² and R¹³ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl and R⁶; aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from nitro, azido, halo, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, R⁶, phenyl, Het³ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with NR⁹R¹⁰; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl, triazinyl, benzothienyl, isobenzothienyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolinyl, phtalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl and triazinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with R¹¹; Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with, where possible, one, two or three substituents each independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, carboxyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, piperidinyl, NR¹²R ¹³, R⁶ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with R⁶ or NR¹²R¹³.
 2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, amino, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkylamino.
 3. A compound according to claim 1 or 2 wherein R² is aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR³, then R² may also represent aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl, arylcarbonyl or arylthiocarbonyl.
 4. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the 6-azauracil moiety is in the para position relative to the central carbon atom.
 5. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein q is 1 or 2 and one R⁴ substituent is in the 4 position; and p is 1 or 2 and the one or two R⁵ substituents are in the ortho position relative to the central carbon atom.
 6. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, as active ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
 5. 7. A process for preparing a composition as claimed in claim 6,, wherein a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is intimately mixed with a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in any one of claims 1 to
 5. 8. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 for use as a medicine.
 9. Use of a compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in the manufacture of a medicament for treating eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases.
 10. A process for preparing a compound as claimed in claim 1, characterized by, a) reacting an intermediate of formula (II) wherein W¹ is a suitable leaving group with an appropriate reagent of formula (III) optionally in a reaction-inert solvent and in the presence of a base;

 wherein R¹, R², R⁴, X and q are as defined in claim 1, and D represents

 wherein R⁵ and p are defined as in claim 1; b) eliminating the group E of a triazinedione of formula (V)

 wherein R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, X and q are as defined in claim 1; c) reacting a ketone of formula (X) with an intermediate of formula (III-a) in the presence of a base and in a reaction-inert solvent; thus obtaining a compound of formula (I-a-2);

 wherein R², R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); d) converting a compound of formula (I-a-2) to a compound of formula (I-a-3) using art-known group transformation reactions,

 wherein R², R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); e) converting a compound of formula (I-a-2) to a compound of formula (I-a-4) using art-known group transformation reactions,

 wherein R², R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); f) converting a compound of formula (I-a-4) to a compound of formula (I-a-5) using art-known group transformation reactions,

 wherein R², R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); g) reacting an intermediate of formula (XII) wherein W⁴ is a suitable leaving group with an intermediate of formula (III) optionally in the presence of a suitable base; thus obtaining a compounds of formula (I-b);

 wherein R², R⁴, X and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); h) reacting an intermediate of formula (XIV) with an intermediate of formula (XV) wherein W³ is a suitable leaving group, in the presence of a suitable base and optionally in the presence of a reaction-inert solvent; thus obtaining a compound of formula (I-c);

 wherein R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); i) cyclizing an intermediate of formula (XX) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to a compound of formula (I-d-1), in the presence of a suitable solvent at an elevated temperature;

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); j) cyclizing an intermediate of formula (XXI) to a compound of formula (I-d-2) in a reaction-inert solvent at an elevated temperature,

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); k) cyclizing an intermediate of formula (XXII) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to a compound of formula (I-d-3), in a suitable solvent,

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); l) cyclizing an intermediate of formula (XXIII) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to a compound of formula (I-d-4), in a reaction-inert solvent and in the presence of an acid,

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); m) cyclizing an intermediate of formula (XXIII) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to a compound of formula (I-d-5), in a reaction-inert solvent and in the presence of an acid,

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); n) reacting an intermediate of formula (XXIV) with an intermediate of formula (XXV) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, and W⁵ is a suitable leaving group; thus forming a compound of formula (I-d-6) in a reaction-inert solvent and in the presnece of a base,

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); o) reacting an intermediate of formula (XXVI) with an intermediate of formula (XXVII) wherein W⁶ is a suitable leaving group; thus forming a compound of formula (I-d-7), in a reaction-inert solvent and in the presnece of an acid;

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); p) reacting an intermediate of formula (XXXIII) with a thioamide of formula (XXXIV); thus forming a compound of formula (I-d-9) in a reaction-inert solvent at an elevated temperature;

 wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and q are as defined in claim 1 and D is defined as in claim 9a); and if desired, converting compounds of formula (I) into each other following art-known transformations, and further, if desired, converting the compounds of formula (I), into a therapeutically active non-toxic acid addition salt by treatment with an acid, or into a therapeutically active non-toxic base addition salt by treatment with a base, or conversely, converting the acid addition salt form into the free base by treatment with alkali, or converting the base addition salt into the free acid by treatment with acid; and also, if desired, preparing stereochemically isomeric forms or N-oxide forms thereof.
 11. A process of marking a receptor comprising the steps of a) radiolabelling a compound as defined in claim 1; b) administering said radiolabelled compound to biological material, c) detecting the emissions from the radiolabelled compound.
 12. A process of imaging an organ, characterized by, administering a sufficient amount of a radiolabelled compound of formula (I) in an appropriate composition, and detecting the emissions from the radioactive compound. 